The NYC Ballet Dances Balanchine
At the end of the month, The New York City Ballet will be performing some of their most loved and classic George Balanchine pieces at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
George Balanchine is considered one of the greatest choreographers in ballet history. He first rose to ballet fame, as the choreographer for Ballet Russe and then moved to the the competing company, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Choreographing ballets for prima ballerinas such as Maria Tallcheif and Nathlie Krassovska, he created some the the world’s most famous ballets. He later formed a new ballet company, Ballet Society, which eventually became The New York City Ballet.
Along with the Balanchine’s ballets, pieces from three other New York City Ballet choreographers, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, and Christopher Wheeldon, are to be included in the program.
Two notable dances include Balanchine’s Agon, which is an abstract ballet for eight female and four male dancers. The music, composed by Igor Stravinsky, suggests 17th century French court dances.
The second piece is another Blanchine classic, Serenade, that tells the story of dance lessons set to Tschaikovsky score. It’s a signature NYCB piece and the first original ballet Balanchine created in America, debuting in 1934.
I’ve seen the New York City Ballet several times over the past 15 years and they always put on a fantastic performance.
New York City Ballet - Balanchine to Robbins
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington DC. 20566 (map it)
Date and Time - Thursday - Sunday Feb. 27 - March 2, 2008, 7:30 p.m., also Sat. and Sun at 1:30.
Tickets - $29.00 - $99.00 and are available online.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Foggy Bottom/George Washington University station (23rd and I St.) - Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.
From the Metro you can walk or take the free Kennedy Center shuttle that runs every 15 minutes Monday - Friday from 9:45 a.m.- Midnight, Saturdays 10:00 a.m.- Midnight, and from Noon - Midnight on Sundays.
Parking - limited parking is available at the Kennedy Center for $16.00.
Images - Courtesy of New York City Ballet - © Paul Kolnik
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