• The Royal Ballet School returns to New York City as part of an educational exchange programme with American Ballet Theatre’s junior company, ABT ll.

• New York City visit culminates with two joint public performances at The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre on 4 and 5 March, 2011.

FEBRUARY 2011

The Royal Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre’s junior company, ABT ll, are again joining forces this spring - the latest development of a unique exchange programme between the two organisations which was launched in 2003. The organisations last participated in the exchange programme in 2005.

This latest phase of the exchange will see both groups of young dancers travelling to each other’s respective home cities for performances, master classes and training sessions and begins on 1 March 2011 with a visit to New York City by graduate students of The Royal Ballet School. A visit to the UK by ABT ll is planned for 2012 and will culminate in joint performances at the Margot Fonteyn Theatre, White Lodge - the home of The Royal Ballet Lower School.

The New York City visit culminates in two joint performances at The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre on 4 and 5 March, 2011. The repertoire will feature heritage works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine and Antony Tudor together with works by the current generation of American and British choreographers.

During the week-long exchange in New York City, The Royal Ballet School and ABT ll will also share master classes led by ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, Royal Ballet School Director Gailene Stock, ABT ll Artistic Director Wes Chapman, Royal Ballet School Senior Ballet Teacher Gary Norman and Franco De Vita, Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT. Additional technique classes for both groups will be led by ABT’s senior teaching staff.

The Royal Ballet School’s visit to New York City is generously underwritten by The Royal Ballet School’s Vice-Chairman and ABT Honorary Trustee, Ricki Gail Conway, and ABT ll’s visit to London is generously supported by Susan Lyall.

Tickets for the New York City performances are priced at $20 and are available by calling 212-477-3030, ext. 3205. The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre is located at 405 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City.

FOR FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jim Fletcher, Development Manager, The Royal Ballet School
Tel: +44 20 7845 7074: Mobile: +44 7768 455667
Email: jimf@royalballetschool.co.uk

Kelly Ryan, Director of Press and Public Relations, American Ballet Theatre
Tel: 00 1 212 477 3030 ext. 3235
Email: kryan@abt.oeg

PERFORMANCE DETAILS:

The Royal Ballet School and ABT ll
Ailey Citigroup Theatre, 405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue, New York City, NY
Friday 4 and Saturday 5 March, 2011 at 7.30pm

PROGRAMME:

Romanza
Music: Ignace Paderewski - Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op 17
Choreography: Gary Norman
Performed by The Royal Ballet School

Continuo
Music: Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D Major
Choreography: Antony Tudor
Performed by ABT ll

Fractals
Music: Kenneth Kirshner - March 3 1993
Choreography: Parrish Maynard
Performed by The Royal Ballet School

-Interval-

Schrumpf
Music: Kurt Schwertsik - Scrumpf-Symphonie, Op 80
Choreography: Alastair Marriott, assisted by: Jonathan Howells
Performed by The Royal Ballet School

Stars and Stripes (Pas de Deux)
Music: Adapted and orchestrated by Hershy Kay after music by John Phillip Sousa
Choreography: George Balanchine
Performed by ABT ll

Swan Lake - Pas de Quatre (Act lll)
Music: Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Frederick Ashton
Performed by The Royal Ballet School

A Taste of Sweet Velvet
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, molto vivace
Choreography: Jodie Gates
Performed by ABT ll