New York City Ballet presents its Spring Gala May 4 in the David H. Koch Theater. The evening features two new ballets, by Christopher Wheeldon (An American in Paris, MJ the Musical) and Alysa Pires, making their world premieres, as well as Justin Peck's (Carousel, West Side Story) The Times Are Racing. While the evening marks Pires' choreographic debut at the New York City Ballet, Wheeldon presents his 23rd.
Wheeldon's new ballet makes its world premiere as part of the gala. He served as New York City Ballet's first Resident Choreographer and returns with a new work choreographed to Verklärte Nacht by Arnold Schoenberg. Dancers for the performance include Sara Mearns, Megan Fairchild, Indiana Woodward, Emily Kikta, Meaghan Dutton-O’Hara, Dominika Afanasenkov, Chun Wai Chan, Peter Walker, Roman Mejia, Sebastián Villarini-Veléz, Christopher Grant, and Jules Mabie. It will also feature costumes by Kylie Manning and Marc Happel, set by Kylie Manning under the supervision of Mark Stanley, and lighting by Mary Louise Geiger.
Another world premiere at the gala is from Canadian-based choreographer Alysa Pires, who serves as Choreographic Associate with the National Ballet of Canada. She was commissioned by New York City Ballet to create this work which is performed to Standard Deviation by Jack Frerer. Mira Nadon, Adrian Danchig-Waring, and Tiler Peck comprise the work's dancers. Costumes are by Dana Osbourne and lighting is by Mark Stanley.
The evening also includes Peck's sneaker ballet The Times Are Racing, which is set to the last four tracks of Dan Deacon’s 2012 album, America. Choreographed for 20 dancers, The Times Are Racing originally premiered in 2017 and features gender-neutral choreography. Costumes are by Humberto Leon's Opening Ceremony, sound is by Abe Jacob, and lighting is by Brandon Stirling Baker.
As part of its 2022-2023 season at Lincoln Center, the New York City Ballet also presented the world premiere of Copland Dance Episodes by NYCB Resident Choreographer and Artistic Advisor Peck.
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