ABT’s Incubator program, now in its fifth year, brings a cohort of young choreographers to the company’s studios for a two-week residency each January that includes studio time, a cast of two to three dancers from ABT’s corps and apprentice ranks, choreographic coaching—and complete artistic freedom to create a 5- to 10-minute work. And for the first time, the 2023 Incubator culminated in a live performance that took place on January 13 at Pace University.

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and departures, plus notable awards and accomplishments, from the last month. Comings & Goings Kim Y. Bears-Bailey has been named artistic director of Philadanco. Founder Joan Myers Brown is now artistic advisor; Janine Beckles assistant artistic director; Donald T. Lunsford II artistic director of D/2. Wayne McGregor has been […]

Choreography may be the most social art. A composer can write music alone at her piano; a painter has his paints. But dance requires human bodies sharing space and physical contact, neither of which is possible at the moment. And yet the imagination is a powerful tool. As the choreographer Jessica Lang recently told a […]

“Is everyone okay?” was my most used sentence during my time with American Ballet Theatre. There I was, leading world-class ABT dancers through my own choreographic process. I knew that it was unlike anything they’d ever experienced, but I think half of the time I was asking that question, it was really directed to myself. […]

This month, American Ballet Theatre principal David Hallberg sees the first test of his directorial chops with the launch of ABT Incubator, the company’s latest initiative to promote the creation of new ballets, particularly by in-house talent. For the first iteration, the choreographers were selected by a panel comprising Hallberg, ABT artistic director Kevin McKenzie, […]

The Metropolitan Opera House is a stadium; an ornately lush stadium, but one nonetheless. The 3,800-seat challenge that American Ballet Theatre readily tackles is typically filled to capacity because of the stalwarts: Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, the classics that, without doubt, have stood the test of time and have brought people in droves to […]

Today, American Ballet Theatre announced a new initiative to foster the development of choreography by company members and freelance dancemakers. Aptly titled ABT Incubator, the program, directed by principal David Hallberg, will give selected choreographers the opportunity to spend two weeks workshopping new dances. “It has always been my vision to establish a process-oriented hub […]