The American Repertory Ballet and ARB's Princeton Ballet School had a busy December!  After an eventful opening weekend (as documented in Anne Levin's December 16th U.S. 1 article) at McCarter Theater in Princeton, Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker made three more stops across the state. 

First, the company traveled north to Morristown, where audiences enjoyed the performance from the comfort of the beautifully renovated Mayo Center for the Performing Arts; then they headed south to Trenton, where audiences were treated to a special guest appearance by former company member (and current Paul Taylor dancer), Sean Mahoney, at the Patriot's Theater at the War Memorial; and finally, the company returned to Central Jersey, where audiences braved the snowstorm and were rewarded with the full experience of the spectacle set to live music by the ARB Orchestra and the Rutgers Children's Choir at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.


Former ARB dancer, Sean Mahoney, performing the Arabian variation in Trenton with ARB dancer and wife, Peggy Petteway. Photo by Leighton Chen.
 

Members of the American Repertory Ballet and ARB's Princeton Ballet School continued to spread the Nutcracker spirit in the community at: an Open House event with partner restaurant Eno Terra; Nutcracker Educational programs in Cedar Grove; and a special performance at the Meadow Lakes retirement community. 

Though the snowfall is still fresh on the ground, it's not too early to start thinking about summer...Graham Lustig's A Midsummer Night's Dream, that is.  Visit www.arballet.org for information on the company's upcoming season, which will also feature works by the illustrious Twyla Tharp.

Save the Date (March 27, 2010) for ARB's 25th Annual Gala and Performance honoring company members Bat Abbit, Jennifer Cavanaugh, Peggy Petteway and Kristin Scott.  Watch this newsletter for more details on these dancers and about the event.

ARB's Princeton Ballet School is gearing up for its spring production of Sleeping Beauty.  PBS students: don't be caught napping - register now! 

Auditions for PBS's acclaimed Summer Intensive are also kicking off this month.  Artistic Director Graham Lustig and School Director Mary Pat Robertson will travel to 13 U.S. cities plus Rome and Paris seeking talented dancers to join the exciting summer training program. 

PBS is excited to announce that the New Brunswick studio is moving back to the heart of the downtown arts district at 7 Livingston Avenue when classes resume on January 4th. 

Read on for more details...