The American Repertory Ballet's final production of this year's season offers a tribute to America and American democracy, presenting four works that each captures some aspect of the American spirit and American ballet. Two are by the iconic choreographer George Balanchine, whose style was a major influence on American ballet – his Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, drawn from Swan Lake, and the Pas de Deux from his ballet Stars and Stripes, set to the music of John Philip Sousa. The company is also presenting the world premiere of At the Heart of It by company dancer Michelle Quiner, which celebrates the character of American women. Another world premiere, Ol’ Timin’ by Artist-In-Residence Ethan Stiefel, is set to the music of contemporary composer Mark O’Connor, a fiddle player, composer, guitarist and mandolinist whose musical style draws from the wide range of American styles, including bluegrass, country, jazz and classical.
A Tempo host Rachel Katz chats with Samantha Dunster, artistic director of American Repertory Ballet and its Princeton Ballet School, about the various elements of this program, which will run May 1 - 3.
