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George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial, like his Theme and Variations, evokes the era of Russia’s Imperial Ballet with its grandeur and elegance.
Created in pandemic times by Alexei Ratmansky for ABT Principals James Whiteside and Isabella Boylston, Neo challenged the dancers to reclaim their stamina after months of isolation. This pas de deux is being presented in live performance for the first time. Alternately playful and daring, fevered and sensuous, the choreography is matched by the bold yet delicate sounds of the shamisen, the Japanese stringed-instrument which accompanies them in a piece by composer Dai Fujikura.
Considered one of the iconic ballets of the 20th century, Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room demands both raw power and extreme grace from its dancers. Bold kinetic movements blend with Philip Glass’s propelling score, and the marriage of choreography, music, costumes, and lighting creates a transcendent experience for both dancers and audience.