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ABT OffStage:
A 2020 Virtual Season
ABT OffStage: A 2020 Virtual Season
American Ballet Theatre will present a full season of programming to viewers and fans around the world with American Ballet Theatre OffStage: A 2020 Virtual Season. As the global health crisis has forced ABT artists out of the theater and into their homes, these online offerings will carry the artistry of ABT into homes everywhere with a slate of daily activities timed to align with ABT’s previously planned New York 80th Anniversary Spring Season, May 11-July 4, 2020.
In this week-by-week online journey, American Ballet Theatre OffStage offers diverse behind-the-scenes experiences of America’s National Ballet Company®. Daily programming includes conversations, ballet classes, orchestral concerts, Guest Artist spotlights, hair and make-up tutorials and a historical review.
James Whiteside, Cory Stearns and Herman Cornejo in Fancy Free. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.
ABT Met Memory
Each Monday, individual ABT artists will reflect on their personal memories of performing at the Metropolitan Opera House and share their thoughts on a particular full-length ballet from ABT’s repertoire.
Cassandra Trenary as the Diamond Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo: Gene Schiavone.
Debut Deferred
“This was going to be a breakthrough season for many people,” says Kevin McKenzie, ABT Artistic Director. ABT dancers who were slated to debut in a new role this season will record a short rehearsal of their character while sheltering at home, and answer questions about missing the opportunity to debut and preparing to do so in the future.
The Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadère. Photo: Gene Schiavone.
ABT Classics as Ballet Classes
Current and former Company dancers teach a ballet class inspired by one of this season’s scheduled ballets. The classes will be hosted on Instagram’s IGTV and YouTube, and designed for all-levels.
Alessandra Ferri and Mikhail Baryshnikov in Giselle. Photo: MIRA.
ABT@80: A Fond Look Back
2020 marks the 80th Anniversary of America’s National Ballet Company,® as well as the 20th Anniversary of Kevin McKenzie’s Swan Lake, the 35th Anniversary of Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet, and the 40th Anniversary of Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadère. ABT celebrates these milestones and honors dancers from its past with historical images, videos, and testimonials featuring its legendary artists.
Sarah Lane and Daniil Simkin in Giselle. Photo: Erin Baiano.
ABT Weekend Talk Series
Each week, the Company presents conversations on YouTube focused on the ballet that would have been performed.
Swan Lake. Photo: Gene Schiavone.
Guest Artist Spotlights
ABT will feature Guest Artists who were scheduled to appear during the 2020 Spring Season: Natalia Osipova, Olga Smirnova and Kimin Kim.
Luciana Paris and Aran Bell in The Seasons. Photo: Marty Sohl.
Orchestral Performances
Members of the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra will perform segments of ballet scores.
Stella Abrera in Romeo and Juliet. Photo: John Grigaitis.
Hair and Makeup Tutorials
ABT dancers and hair and make-up artists will provide tutorials, such as the romantic bun from Giselle.
ABT Virtual Meeting Backgrounds
Enjoy unique virtual backgrounds of ABT productions! Fans can access a new background each week, representing the weekly repertoire of ABT’s planned 80th Anniversary Spring Season.
Scenes from Fancy Free, La Bayadère, Romeo and Juliet, Of Love and Rage, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Jane Eyre and Swan Lake will enable users to attend their next virtual meeting in true ABT style.
Click each image to download. Find instructions to set the images as your background on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Snap Camera.
ABT 2020 Company Photo
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