ARB Dancer Emily Cordies-Maso, photo by Harald Schrader Photography
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- American Repertory Ballet's 2025/26 season finale at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) will shine bright with Americana — a vibrant mixed-repertoire performance that celebrates the spirit of our country in honor of its 250th anniversary. Presented May 1-3, 2026, this dynamic program features two iconic works by George Balanchine - Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux and an excerpt from Stars and Stripes - plus World Premieres by ARB Company Dancer Michelle Quiner and ARB's acclaimed Artist in Residence, Ethan Stiefel.
Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux (1960) is set to lush and joyful music by Pyotr Ilyich Tschaikovsky, originally used for Act III of Swan Lake. This lively pas de deux is back by popular demand, having made its ARB Company premiere in 2025 at McCarter Theatre and later at the Princeton Festival with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. ARB’s Company premiere of Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes pas de deux (1958), with rousing music by John Philip Sousa, will immediately follow as a nod to America’s 250th anniversary.
The performances of Tschaikovsky Pas De Deux and the Stars and Stripes pas de deux are made possible by a grant from The Jerome Robbins Foundation, with additional support for the Stars and Stripes pas de deux from the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New Jersey. These Balanchine ® Ballets are presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and have been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style ® and Balanchine Technique ® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.
ARB Dancers Lily Krisko and Aldeir Monteiro in George Balanchine's Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, photo by Megan Teat Photography
ARB Dancer Michelle Quiner makes her Company choreographic debut with an original work called At the Heart of It. “My piece explores the strength of a woman through several different facets,” says Quiner. “Strength is not one-dimensional – it can take on many forms and reveal itself in both big and small ways. The piece centers around resilience, persistence, guidance, and presence – qualities that lie at the heart of a strong woman.” At the Heart of It will feature costume design by Janessa Cornell Urwin and lighting design by John Bartenstein.
Gain further insight into Quiner’s choreographic process at a free “On Pointe” event held at Morven Museum & Garden on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:30pm. Quiner will be in discussion with ARB Executive Director Julie Diana Hench, speaking about the process of going from studio to stage and about life as a professional dancer, offering a glimpse into the making of Americana.
Ethan Stiefel, ARB’s Artist in Residence, adds to the Company’s unique repertoire with another world premiere ballet created especially for this talented roster of dancers. Titled Ol’ Timin’, Stiefel’s new work is set to the music of Mark O’Connor.
“When presented with the idea of an Americana-themed program, my mind immediately went to some string quartets composed by the prolific Mark O’Connor,” says Stiefel. “I am simply a huge fan of his work and have been fortunate to communicate with him about his music. I felt there was no better way to celebrate America than by creating a ballet to music by one of this nation’s finest and most inventive artists.” Ol’ Timin’ will feature costume design by Janessa Cornell Urwin and lighting design by Jason Flamos.
Americana will also be a swan song for ARB Dancer Annie Johnson, who has announced her retirement at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. Johnson joined Princeton Ballet School as a trainee, became a member of ARB2 in 2017, and then was promoted to the Company in 2018. Since joining ARB, Johnson originated roles in many new works, and has been an audience favorite in both classical and contemporary repertoire. Her final performance with ARB will be on Sunday, May 3 at 2:00pm.
Performances take place Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:00pm; Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 2:00pm** Audio Description available for this performance; and Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:00pm. Tickets for Americana range from $42 to $72, not including additional 4% NBPAC Ticket Fee. Tickets are available for purchase online. The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center is located at 11 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
** Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Master Class with Gillian Murphy – Back by popular demand! ARB Artistic Associate and recently retired principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Gillian Murphy will be teaching a Ballet Master Class at Princeton Ballet School's New Brunswick Studios located at 60 Bayard Street on Saturday, May 2 from 11:00am to 12:30pm before the curtain rises on Americana. For Intermediate/Advanced students ages 16+, get into the ballet spirit before the magic comes alive on stage! All participants receive a special discounted offer on tickets for Americana, sold separately. Space is limited to 25 students.
With a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000.
Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a “Major Arts Institution'' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company is a core partner of The Arts Institute of Middlesex County and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance. Princeton Ballet School, ARB’s official school, attracts talent from around the world while providing opportunities for local students of all ages, such as through its award winning DANCE POWER program.
Princeton Ballet School (PBS) is the official school of American Repertory Ballet. PBS has gained an international reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by “New Jersey’s First Lady of Dance,”[1] Audrée Estey. At its studio locations in Princeton and New Brunswick, PBS offers classes in ballet, contemporary dance, tap, character, and more. PBS provides opportunities for students ages 3 through adult, including its award-winning DANCE POWER program, and performance opportunities, such as the option to participate in American Repertory Ballet’s celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker.
Source: [1] Dunning, J. (1975, January 25). A First Lady of the Dance. The New York Times.
