New York City Ballet (NYCB) Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan have introduced that Alexei Ratmansky, broadly thought of to be one of many world’s biggest residing choreographers, will be part of the Company in August 2023, as Artist in Residence.
As a part of an preliminary five-year contract, Ratmansky will create no less than one new work for NYCB every year, with the primary scheduled to premiere through the 2024 Winter Season as a part of the Company’s 75th anniversary celebrations, which can happen from September 2023 by means of July 2024. In addition, Ratmansky will oversee and rehearse his present repertory for NYCB, which incorporates six acclaimed ballets that the choreographer has created for the Company since 2006: Russian Seasons (2006); Concerto DSCH (2008); Namouna, A Grand Divertissement (2010); Pictures at an Exhibition (2014); Odessa (2017); and Voices (2020).
Currently Artist in Residence at American Ballet Theatre, a place he has held since 2008, Ratmansky will step down from that function on the conclusion of his present contract in June 2023.
“We are very excited to welcome Alexei Ratmansky to his new artistic home at New York City Ballet,” stated Stafford and Whelan in making the announcement. “Alexei is one of the most important figures in the world of ballet and we know that he will enrich our repertory, inspire our dancers and musicians, and thrill our audiences with his extraordinary artistry.”
“This opportunity at New York City Ballet has opened a new creative door for me,” stated Ratmansky. “After working with the company over the years, I am profoundly grateful for the chance to begin a new innovative conversation with the artists of NYCB, and its audiences, as Artist in Residence at the beginning of its 75th anniversary season. This role will allow me to devote my time and attention to making ballets, and is a true gift to a choreographer. For NYCB to commit to my work is an honor, and I look forward to what will follow. I want to thank the artists, board, staff and supporters of NYCB for this opportunity.”
Both Stafford and Whelan labored carefully with Ratmansky on the creation of latest works whereas they have been dancers with NYCB, with Whelan creating main roles in 4 ballets – Russian Seasons; Concerto DSCH; Namouna, A Grand Divertissement; and Pictures at an Exhibition; and Stafford dancing within the authentic productions of Russian Seasons and Concerto DSCH. Since being appointed to their creative management roles at NYCB in 2019, Stafford and Whelan have persistently programmed works by Ratmansky as a part of the Company’s repertory seasons.
The upcoming 2023 Winter Season will embody Voices; and the 2023 Spring Season will embody each Namouna, A Grand Divertissement and Pictures at an Exhibition. “Working in the studio with Alexei on the creation of his incredible ballets was one of the artistic highlights of my career as a dancer with NYCB,” stated Whelan. “To have him now working with NYCB’s current generation of dancers on a regular basis is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to see what he creates with our artists.”
At NYCB, Ratmansky will be part of a creative management staff that features Stafford, Whelan and the Company’s Resident Choreographer and Artistic Advisor Justin Peck. “New choreography has always been central to NYCB’s artistic mission and to have both Justin Peck and Alexei Ratmansky regularly creating new work for the Company is extraordinarily exciting as we approach our 75th anniversary season,” stated Stafford.
Since its inception in 1948, NYCB has premiered almost 500 new ballets, lots of which are actually carried out by ballet corporations around the globe. Under its present creative management, NYCB has commissioned new work from choreographers Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, Mauro Bigonzetti, Silas Farley, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Andrea Miller, Justin Peck, Alysa Pires, Gianna Reisen, Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz and Christopher Wheeldon.
“Commissioning new work from a wide-ranging roster of artists has been an important artistic priority since Wendy, Justin and I began our leadership positions with NYCB in 2019, and that commitment will continue into our 75th year and beyond,” stated Stafford.
Ratmansky is broadly acknowledged as one of many biggest choreographers of his era and has made quite a few works for ballet corporations around the globe. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Ratmansky is of Ukrainian descent, and educated on the Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow previous to changing into a principal dancer with the Ukrainian National Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. From January 2004 to 2008, he was the Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet. In 2009, Ratmansky was named Artist in Residence at American Ballet Theatre. Ratmansky first labored with NYCB as a part of a Working Session of the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of NYCB, in 2002.
