Photo by VAM

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- New Jersey Ballet returns to New Brunswick Performing Arts Center with Icons of American Ballet, a vibrant program celebrating groundbreaking choreographers who have shaped the identity of American dance. Performances will take place Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 2:00pm & Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2:00pm.

The performance opens with George Balanchine’s iconic Serenade, a poetic and visually sweeping ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. As Balanchine’s first ballet created in America, Serenade remains a cornerstone of American neoclassical ballet, celebrated for its musicality, elegance and emotional depth.

Next is Justin Peck’s In Creases, a bold and musically driven work that marked his choreographic debut at New York City Ballet. Set to a propulsive score for two pianos by Philip Glass, the ballet showcases Peck’s signature use of rhythm, pattern and youthful energy, establishing him as one of the most innovative choreographers of his generation.

The program concludes with Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, a stylish and sophisticated tribute to love in all its forms. Set to recordings by Frank Sinatra, the ballet features seven couples navigating the joys and challenges of romantic relationships through a rich blend of ballroom, ballet, and Tharp’s unmistakable flair for theatricality and wit. Both timeless and contemporary, the work celebrates Sinatra’s music with movement that is as elegant as it is emotionally resonant.

Together, these three works create a compelling afternoon of dance that honors the visionaries who defined and redefined American ballet.

Tickets are available for purchase online. New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) is located at 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick in New Jersey.

Celebrating 67 years, New Jersey Ballet remains a vital contributor to the state's rich performing arts scene, bringing dance to audiences across New Jersey and beyond. Under the leadership of Maria Kowroski, former Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet, the company is experiencing a vibrant artistic expansion—presenting bold repertory, commissioning new works, and enriching communities with accessible, world class dance.