(NEWARK, NJ) -- With its 66-year legacy of excellence, the New Jersey Ballet under the extraordinary vision of the Company's Artistic Director Maria Kowroski, returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for a weekend performance series, Friday-Saturday, April 24-25, 2025 at 7:30pm. The exciting new program LEGACY & VISION centers around Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs and a world premiere by Harrison Ball.

Expect a glamorous portrait of seven couples, tracing the arc of their relationships to the music of Frank Sinatra. Celebrated for its combination of technical precision and emotional depth, this work by the legendary Tharp captures the essence of romance and nostalgia.

Twyla Tharp’s irresistible Nine Sinatra Songs (1982) is an escape into a glamorous world of seven couples, tracing the arc of their relationships to the music of Frank Sinatra. Celebrated for its combination of technical precision and emotional depth, this work by the legendary Tharp captures the essence of romance and nostalgia. More than 40 years after its debut, The New York Times hails it “as something rare: an American masterpiece.” Set to Sinatra’s jazz-pop hits such as “All the Way,” “That’s Life,” and “Strangers in the Night,” Nine Sinatra Songs “seems to celebrate the glorious hope of connecting, and its impossibility.”

New Jersey Ballet presents the world premiere of New Ancient Strings, the second ballet by choreographer Harrison Ball for the company. Featuring costumes designed by Gap Inc. Creative Director Zac Posen and lighting by Brandon Stirling Baker, the ballet showcases a dynamic cast of 19 dancers performing to the evocative music of Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko. Blending contemporary innovation with classical refinement, New Ancient Strings explores movement through the intricate rhythms and rich textures of Diabaté and Sissoko’s compositions. This collaboration brings together creative voices in dance, fashion, and stage design.

“The piece begins with a lone dancer on stage, kneeling—almost bowing into the ground in surrender. As the music unfolds, dancers enter, as if to uplift her, or perhaps they exist only in her mind. The music itself is a journey, and I aim to create that same sense of exploration for both the dancers and the audience. For this piece, I believe we have the opportunity to introduce new instrumentation to American ballet, to explore a new choreographic approach, and, most importantly, to create something with profound meaning—rather than merely glorifying the music and performance. My intent is to inspire, to move people, and to highlight humanity and our deep connections."  - Harrison Ball, choreographer

Tickets range from $49-$69 and are available for purchase online, by calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office (1 Center Street in Newark, New Jersey).

Based in Florham Park, New Jersey, the New Jersey Ballet has been a staple of the state's cultural community for over six decades. Renowned for its artistic excellence, innovative programming and commitment to bringing high-quality ballet performances to a wide audience, Maria Kowroski's expansive artistic vision for the Company is advancing the Ballet to a new level of excellence.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States.  It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day.  As New Jersey’s anchor cultural institution, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.

Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.  NJPAC has attracted more than 11 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.