Event Type: Performance

Join us for the world premiere of Douglas Martin’s full-length ballet, Pride and Prejudice, featuring live orchestral accompaniment by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Devlin. Martin, the innovative Artistic Director of American Repertory Ballet, brings the 1813 romantic classic penned by Jane Austen to life, celebrating its beloved tale of love, manners and marriage in the English gentry, a broad social class that includes those who owned land (the country or landed gentry) as well as the professional classes (lawyers, doctors and clergy) who did not. Specifically, it follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. The ballet is supported by the wonderfully melodic music of Ignaz Pleyel, the Austrian-born French composer, with costumes tailored to showcase the fashions of the English Regency period from 1790–1820. This is the seventh world premiere Martin has choreographed for American Repertory Ballet.

Choreography: Artistic Director Douglas Martin
Music: Ignaz Pleyel
Costumes and Set Design: Christina Giannini

American Repertory Ballet Artistic Director Douglas Martin’s full-length ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, premiered in early 2015 to high praise. Set to an enchanting score by Felix Mendelssohn, the ballet brings to life the wit and splendor of one of William Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. Featuring colorful choreography, costumes and sets, the story portrays the weaving tales of cunning fairies, quarreling lovers and a hilariously amateur acting group as their paths cross in a magical forest.

“Wonderful. I smiled from beginning to end.” —Critical Dance

“Feuding lovers, doltish tradesmen, and endearing woodland fairies are the roles that have been taken on by ARB dancers. And it is heartening to see that Martin and his principals have made every role, every sequence count; in fact, they have even addressed and improved upon a few of the weak points in Shakespeare’s material.” —Broadway World

Choreography: Artistic Director Douglas Martin
Music: Felix Mendelssohn

The abridged, one-hour, Sensory-Friendly performance of American Repertory Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is especially for children and adults with special needs. The performance is made possible by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders as part of the UC Sensory Friendly Theatre series.

For more information about this Sensory-Friendly performance, please call Lindsay Cahill at (732)249-1254, ext. 19, or email [email protected]

A collection of some of the most spirited and bold dance, Masters of Dance and Music is a plethora of style, grace and the boldly new. The program opens with Glazunov Variations, choreographed by renowned choreographer and former American Ballet Theatre dancer Kirk Peterson, and is a highly technical work danced to sections of Alexander Glazunov’s music for the classical ballet, Raymonda. The program also features a new (and secret) world premiere by American Repertory Ballet Resident Choreographer Mary Barton. The evening concludes with Mary Barton’s A Shepherd Singing (and I Still Heard Nothing), which premiered last spring. This work explores composer Ludwig van Beethoven’s life, work and creative process through movement.

A Shepherd Singing (And I Still Heard Nothing)
Choreography: Mary Barton
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven

Scarlet Sonata (World Premiere)
Choreography: Mary Barton
Music: Joachim Raff

Glazunov Variations
Choreography: Kirk Peterson
Music: Alexander Glazunov

 

 

American Repertory Ballet Artistic Director Douglas Martin’s full-length ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, premiered in early 2015 to high praise. Set to an enchanting score by Felix Mendelssohn, the ballet brings to life the wit and splendor of one of William Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. Featuring colorful choreography, costumes and sets, the story portrays the weaving tales of cunning fairies, quarreling lovers and a hilariously amateur acting group as their paths cross in a magical forest.

“Wonderful. I smiled from beginning to end.” —Critical Dance

“Feuding lovers, doltish tradesmen, and endearing woodland fairies are the roles that have been taken on by ARB dancers. And it is heartening to see that Martin and his principals have made every role, every sequence count; in fact, they have even addressed and improved upon a few of the weak points in Shakespeare’s material.” —Broadway World

Choreography: Artistic Director Douglas Martin
Music: Felix Mendelssohn