New Work by Alexei Ratmansky to Highlight American Ballet Theatre's 2016 Spring Gala

The World Premiere of a new work by Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky will highlight American Ballet Theatre's 2016 Spring Gala benefit on Monday, May 16 at 6:30 P.M. at the Metropolitan Opera House.

The evening will also feature ABT's renowned Principal Dancers in preview performances from the Company's eight-week season, followed by dinner and dancing on the Promenade at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center.

First Lady Michelle Obama will serve as Honorary Chair of ABT's Spring Gala. Co-Chairs for the evening benefit are Pamela Ford, Mary Elizabeth Snow, Sutton Stracke and Caryn Zucker. Ariana Rockefeller and Elizabeth Ann Beller will serve as Junior Committee Co-Chairs.

American Ballet Theatre's Spring Gala will include appearances by Principal Dancers Stella Abrera, Isabella Boylston, Misty Copeland, Herman Cornejo, Marcelo Gomes, Gillian Murphy, Veronika Part, Hee Seo, Daniil Simkin, Cory Stearns and James Whiteside. The performance will feature excerpts from Act II of Ratmansky's The Sleeping Beauty, scenes from Frederick Ashton's Sylvia and La Fille mal gardée, the World Premiere by Ratmansky set to Leonard Bernstein's Serenade after Plato's Symposium and a full performance of Firebird. In addition, guest artist Alessandra

Ferri will perform the Pie Jesu solo from Kenneth MacMillan's Requiem, set to music by Gabriel Fauré and sung by soprano Ying Fang.

Gala benefit tickets, beginning at $2,500, include the performance and post-performance dinner and dancing. For Gala benefit ticket information, call American Ballet Theatre's Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239. A portion of the evening's proceeds will support ABT's education and community outreach programs.

Performance-only tickets, beginning at $25, are available online, at the Metropolitan Opera house box office or by calling 212-362-6000. For more information, visit ABT's website at www.abt.org.