American Repertory Ballet to Perform at PAC's Hamilton Stage & Raritan Valley Community College Next Month

American Repertory Ballet will be bringing 2 different mixed-bill productions to Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ and to The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ over the course of two weekends in October. The company will present American Artist Showcase, featuring works by Gerald Arpino, Patrick Corbin, and ARB Resident Choreographer Mary Barton, at Hamilton Stage October 18-19. On October 26 at 8:00pm, Premieres will take the stage at The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, showcasing brand new works by Kirk Peterson and Mary Barton, and more.

American Artist Showcase will run October 18, 2013 at 7:00pm and October 19, 2013 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at Hamilton Stage. The program will feature ARB Resident Choreographer Mary Barton's Faerie Tyme, a narrative work in one act filled with both whimsy and athleticism (pictured on right). Patrick Corbin's lyrical Caress, whichhas been characterized by Jerry Hochman, dance critic for CriticalDance and Ballet-Dance Magazine as "vibrant, inventive, and multi-faceted," will also be featured. The last work on the program is by the great Joffrey Ballet co-founder and choreographer Gerald Arpino. Viva Vivaldi, which ARB originally revived in the fall of 2012. This uniquely charming work is set to Antonio Vivaldi's "Concert in D for Violin, Strings, and Cembalo"
Premieres, on stage at The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College on October 26 at 8:00pm, will feature world premieres by Kirk Peterson, former dancer with American Ballet Theatre and now acclaimed choreographer, and Barton. Peterson's new work Tears of the Moon is set to music by Beethoven. The piece features a range of movements - from highly technical, quick footwork to a lush and emotional pas de deux.

"For many years I had wanted to create a ballet using Beethoven's music, but finding the right ballet company and doing it at the right time was the challenge," Peterson says. "To tackle Beethoven as a choreographer in one's youth is often foolish. I lived with the desire to use Beethoven for many years, but held that desire in check, until now. I felt that I now have the maturity and experience as an artist to explore the possibilities of dance to the master's work. The dancers of ARB have also been a pleasure to work with and have beautifully facilitated my efforts, vision and concept for what resulted in a complex and delicately emotional piece."

Barton's new work promises to have a narrative thread woven through intricate neoclassical movements. Her past works have become signature pieces in ARB's repertory. Among them are Straight Up With a Twist, which ARB premiered at RVCC in 2011 and was recently well-received at the world-renowned Jacob's Pillow summer dance festival this August. She is coy about discussing the details of her newest work for Premieres, but is "looking forward to unveiling it at RVCC." Ann Marie DeAngelo's athletic Blackberry Winter, an ARB company premiere in October 2012, will round out the program.

Tickets are now available through the Union County PAC and Raritan Valley Community College box offices.

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