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originally published: 09/08/2023 

(RINGOES, NJ) -- Old York Cellars and Roxey Ballet Company are collaborating to bring the taste of wine and the beauty of dance to the hills of Hunterdon County at the award-winning winery in Ringoes, NJ on Saturday, October 7, 2023 (Rain date October 14th).  The first performance of its kind for the Roxey, Dancing on the Green was designed to connect the rural cultural identity of Hunterdon County with the professional artistry of Roxey Ballet. The wine team at Old York Cellars will be pairing wines with each dance number and offering free samples at the start of each number.

The troupe will perform four short dance numbers in front of the vines. A different piece will be staged at 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, and 2:00pm. After a break for the dance troupe, the dance numbers will be repeated at 3:00pm, 3:30pm, 4:00pm, and 4:30pm. These four unique pieces have been selected especially for this event to embrace the beauty of landscape and the incredible talents of the dancers.

“Since our founding, we have combined with art in various forms. We are excited about bringing the wine and dance communities together.  Combining the two with the beauty of Hunterdon County is icing on the cake,” said David Wolin, owner of Old York Cellars.  “We are honored to be the first venue for this exciting new collaborative event.” Guests at the vineyard that day will be able walk into the vineyard area to view the performances during their visit. Roxey Ballet will perform several works performed to classical music that complement the beautiful environment of the winery.

Dancing on the Green is open to the public, but space is limited and reservations are strongly recommended at www.oldyorkcellars.com for table or cabana reservations. The winery will be offering its menu of wine & food to guests at tables or in cabanas and will have live music in between performances. Additional seating and standing room will be available for guests who just wish to watch the dance performances.

Dancing on the Green is a community initiative of the Hunterdon County Cultural Heritage Commission, the Hunterdon County Office of Economic Development and Tourism, Roxey Ballet Executive Director Mark Roxey, and Old York Cellars. Roxey Ballet’s mission to make the arts accessible to everyone is supported through this initiative by presenting dance in Hunterdon County’s treasured rural settings, reaching new and diverse audiences, and sharing in the experience.

 

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Set amidst some of the oldest vines in the Garden State, Old York Cellars is one of New Jersey’s top-rated vineyards and wineries.  The winery plays host to a variety of extraordinary experiences both inside and outside of the tasting room including weekend Wine & Music, Wine & Comedy Nights, Specialty Tasting Experiences, their exclusive Vintner’s Club and a collaborative wine collection with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.

The Roxey Ballet began in 1995 as the Hunterdon Youth Ballet when professional dancers, Mark and Melissa Roxey, brought world-class professional dance training and performance opportunities to Hunterdon County, New Jersey and Bucks  County, Pennsylvania. Mark and Melissa both had distinguished careers with American dance companies including The Joffrey Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, and Dayton Ballet, among  others.

As the regional youth ballet company began to grow, the trustees of the Hunterdon County Youth Ballet changed its name to The Roxey Ballet Company, Inc to reflect its clear direction and development into an outstanding touring professional dance company with a superb roster of internationally recognized artists from all over the world. Today audiences enjoy more than 70 repertory works and a wide range of  full-length ballets.

The company has performed extensively around the country including New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington DC for the 2008 Inauguration of President Obama. The company is currently experiencing  a major transition in its life cycle and is committed to procuring high-quality artists and original repertory works from emerging and established choreographers.

The Roxey Ballet's typical season includes performances from September through June of each year, including a Fall main-stage concert, the holiday classic production of The Nutcracker, a Winter event, and Children's Classic Stories spring productions. The remainder of the season is spent conducting a variety of services and concerts, from  educational performances, workshops, and residencies, to master classes  and touring.

The Mill Ballet School is the official school of Roxey Ballet.