Gala performance will feature Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo and a
dazzling display of works from classical to jazz

New Jersey Ballet’s annual Gala at NJPAC is always reason to celebrate, and this year is no exception. The program will feature Agnes deMille’s iconic American masterpiece, Rodeo [Row-day-o], which Robert Johnson of The Star-Ledger called “the most successful of the Americana ballets.” A classic in its own right, Aaron Copland’s score is familiar to many who may never have seen the ballet.

Gabriella Noa-Pierson is the Cowgirl in Rodeo

The premiere of Rodeo created a sensation in 1942 and heralded a new era of American story ballets in which acting became as important as dancing. Mr. Johnson noted that New Jersey Ballet’s artists are “a cast well suited to revive the ballet,” and praised the trio of dancers - Gabriella Noa-Pierson, Andrei Jouravlev and David Tamaki -- who dance the roles of the Cowgirl, the Head Wrangler and The Champion Roper. The production, which is being presented with the cooperation of DeMille Productions, Anderson Ferrell, Director, has been staged by former Ballet Theatre dancer Paul Sutherland, who was deMille’s assistant and worked closely with the legendary choreographer for many years. The Gala will be a celebration of the Arts in Education, and New Jersey Ballet will showcase a variety of ballet styles designed to educate and entertain newcomers to the art as well as satisfy seasoned balletomanes. The evening’s guest of honor will be The Honorable Nina Mitchell Wells, former Assistant Dean of Rutgers Law School and member of the boards of many schools, colleges, cultural and philanthropic organizations. A longtime advocate of the importance of the arts in education, Ms. Wells recently noted that the arts are a “vital intellectual and developmental component. In addition to substantially enhancing academics, the arts ignite critical thinking skills, foster self-discipline, reinforce self-esteem and ultimately develop high-achieving and creative citizens.”

For over thirty-five years, New Jersey Ballet has been in the forefront of the arts in education effort, bringing its popular On School Time programs to hundreds of schools and introducing thousands of youngsters to the magic of dance theatre.

New Jersey Ballet dancers in Agnes deMille's Rodeo

In addition to Rodeo, the company will perform selections from its extensive repertory of classical, bravura, contemporary and jazz works. The program will include the poignant pas de deux from the second act of Giselle, the bravura Flames of Paris, and excerpts form two powerful and very different ballets from internationally renowned contemporary choreographer Robert North; the trio from Death and the Maiden and sections from the witty and playful jazz ballet, Let’s Go South.

New Jersey Ballet Celebrates Arts in Education at NJPAC, Thursday, April 26. The performance, featuring Agnes deMille’s Rodeo, begins at 7:00PM. Tickets range from $30 to $50. For information and reservations, call New Jersey Ballet at 973-597-9600.

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