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NYC ballet troupes are streaming free performances and workouts

Shaye Weaver
Written by
Shaye Weaver
Editor, Time Out New York
NYCB's Jewels
Photograph: Erin BaianoSara Mearns and Russell Janzen in "Jewels"
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It's never been easier to catch the ballet than right now.

This month, you'll be able to tap into the grace and elegance of the classical dance online as the New York City Ballet takes its spring season virtual by releasing performances each Tuesday and Friday evening at 8pm, new episodes of "City Ballet The Podcast" and putting on two series of workshops—"Ballet Essentials" (for all ages) and "Ballet Breaks" (for children ages 3 to 8) and "Wednesday with Wendy," a series of ballet-inspired movement classes taught by NYCB Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan.

Here's the schedule of performances:

Tuesday, May 26, at 8pm: George Balanchine’s high-energy Donizetti Variations, led by Ashley Bouder and Andrew Veyette;

Friday, May 29: Justin Peck’s Easy, set to music by Leonard Bernstein, along with excerpts from six other ballets:

Pam Tanowitz’ Bartók Ballether first work for NYCB, featuring Indiana Woodward in the 2019 world premiere performance;

Alexei Ratmansky’s Voiceshis latest work for NYCB, featuring Lauren Lovette in the 2020 world premiere performance;

Gianna Reisen’s Composer’s Holiday, her first work for NYCB as the youngest choreographer commissioned in the company’s history, in the 2017 world premiere performance;

Kyle Abraham’s The Runawayhis first work for NYCB, featuring Taylor Stanley, who received a 2019 Bessie Award for this role;

Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing, featuring Peck and Robert Fairchild in the 2017 world premiere performance;

and Mauro Bigonzetti’s Oltremare, set to a commissioned score by Bruno Moretti. 

You can access these for 72 hours after they're streamed on NYCB’s YouTube channelFacebook page, and website at nycballet.com.

Ballet Essentials Online

NYCB's in-demand movement workshops will be online Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm. NYCB artists will lead viewers through a ballet warm-up and movement combination inspired by iconic works by Balanchine, Robbins, and other choreographers. Registration is required here.

Ballet Breaks

Kids ages 3 to 8 can tune into a series of lively Saturday and Sunday morning movement activities, which are each 20 minutes long and include a warm-up and choreography inspired by some of NYCB's most beloved ballets. They begin at 11am. Registration is required here

Wednesday With Wendy

NYCB Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan will be on Instagram Live each Wednesday, starting April 22, at 5pm with a series of ballet-inspired movement classes for people of all ages and levels of training.

Additionally, Prima Ballerina Tiler Peck is hosting daily ballet classes on her Instagram Live, @tilerpeck, Mondays through Saturdays at 1pm as a way to connect with and keep people active while they are home. People are using the hashtag #turnitoutwithtiler to show what they are learning.  

NYC Ballet Wendy Whelan
Wendy Whelan teaching company class. Photography: Courtesy of Erin Baiano

American Ballet Theatre

The American Ballet Theatre is also taking to Instagram to connect with its followers with a daily schedule of activities, such as soothing videos of @TheCartorialist drawing recorded dances called "Follow the Line," a workout led by ballet dancers, a basics ballet class, an Ask Me Anything session and fun for kids. Just follow its handle to learn what's on for the week.

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