ABT II, Royal Ballet School Perform shared bill at The Ailey Citigroup Theater

ABT II and the graduate students of The Royal Ballet School (RBS) will perform a shared bill at The Ailey Citigroup Theater on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. Performances by ABT II will include Antony Tudor's Continuo, Jodie Gates' A Taste of Sweet Velvet, and the pas de deux from George Balanchine's Stars and Stripes. The RBS repertory will include Gary Norman's Romanza, Alistair Marriot's Schrumpf, Parrish Maynard's Fractal and pas de quatre from Sir Frederick Ashton's Swan Lake.

During the week-long exchange, beginning Tuesday, March 1 through Saturday, March 5, ABT II and RBS will share Master Classes led by ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, RBS Director Gailene Stock, ABT II Artistic Director Wes Chapman, RBS Senior Teacher Gary Norman, and Franco De Vita, Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT. Additional technique classes for both companies will be led by ABT's senior artistic staff.

The shared performance is a part of a unique exchange, which began in 2003, between ABT II (formerly the ABT Studio Company) and The Royal Ballet School. Both companies will travel to each other's respective homes for performances, master classes and training sessions with senior coaching staff. The two companies last participated in this exchange in 2005. The exchange will culminate during the 2011-2012 school year with ABT II and RBS performing at The Royal Ballet School in London and at White Lodge, home of the RBS Lower School.

The Royal Ballet School's visit to New York is generously underwritten by Honorary ABT Trustee Ricki Gail Conway. ABT II's visit to London is generously underwritten by Susan Lyall. Performances by The Royal Ballet School and ABT II at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre will take place at 7:30 P.M. on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5. Tickets are priced at $20 are available by calling 212-477-3030, ext. 3205. The Ailey Citigroup Theatre is located at

405 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City.

For more information on performances with The Royal Ballet School and ABT II, please call the ABT Education Department at 212-477-3030, ext. 3205.