Spring Mix: 5 for 55
- Date: Apr 4 - Apr 6, 2025
- Venue: August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Balanchine and Two World Premieres!
In honor of our 55th Anniversary, artistic director Adam W. McKinney has selected five remarkable contemporary and classical works for Spring Mix – three that, throughout its history, the company has performed and two world premieres. Fall in love again with George Balanchine’s sumptuous and sparkling Emeralds, Jorma Elo’s divine, fast-paced 1st Flash and Dwight Rhoden’s intense and passionate Ave Maria. Be enthralled by two newly-choreographed world premieres – the compelling, primal The Rite of Spring by PBT choreographer-in-residence William Moore and Falling Forward by acclaimed choreographer Caili Quan.
Choreography: George Balanchine, Jorma Elo, Dwight Rhoden, William Moore and Caili Quan | Music: Gabriel Fauré, Jean Sibelius, Giulio Caccini, Igor Stravinksy and Julius Eastman’s “Stay On It.”
Artist: Hannah Carter | Photography: Michael Henninger
Performance Times
Friday, April 4, 2025 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 5, 2025 – 2:00 PM
Saturday, April 5, 2025 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 6, 2025 – 2:00 PM
Theater Programs
Join us at the theater to learn about Spring Mix from artists involved in the production! All programs are free and don’t require registration unless indicated.
Opening Night Preview | Friday, April 4 | 6:45 p.m.
Join acclaimed choreographer Caili Quan to hear about her world premiere work, Falling Forward. In the Cafe area, first floor.
Artist Q&A | Friday, April 4 | after the performance
Chat with soloist Josiah Kauffman and Madeline Gradle and Erin Casale, corps de ballet, about tonight’s performance. Come to the front of the Orchestra section for this program.
Tea with the A.D. | Saturday, April 5 | 6:45 p.m.
Grab your tea – or your favorite drink – at the bar and join Artistic Director Adam W. McKinney for an informal conversation before the performance. Cafe area, first floor.
Artist Q&A | Saturday, April 5 | after the performance
Chat with PBT artists David O’Matz, Rylan Doty and Abigail Huang about tonight’s performance. Come to the front of the Orchestra section for this program.
More Info
Get ready for Spring Mix with a little background on the ballets!
1st Flash
PBT performed 1st Flash by Jorma Elo in 2023. He sat down with us then to talk about the inspiration for and movement in this powerful and exhilirating ballet. 19-minute listen. Click here for the video.
Emeralds
An excerpt from George Balanchine’s Jewels ballet, PBT last performed Emeralds in 2000. Get a quick primer on the ballet on our blog.
Ave Maria
PBT has performed Dwight Rhoden’s Ave Maria many times since 2005. Its imagery references the religious traditions Rhoden grew up with, but it also evokes a more universal spirituality, connecting physicality, music and self-reflection. It’s an intensely moving theater experience and an audience favorite. Read PBT soloist Diana Yohe’s description of the intense and beautiful connection artists have when performing this work.
Falling Forward
Check out PBT’s blog to hear about this world premiere work from choreographer Caili Quan, a dancemaker on the forefront of the future of the art form.
The Rite of Spring
This is another world premere work, choreographed by William Moore, PBT choreographer-in-residence and former PBT. It’s set to the Igor Stravinsky music for the original 1913 production, which caused a “riot” at its Paris premiere. Learn more about the ballet from Moore himself at this link.