Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces New York City Ballet's Summer Season Presented by HSBC, July 6 - 17

Balanchine's Enchanting A Midsummer Night's Dream Highlights Opening Week

Saratoga Premieres of Architecture of Dance Works by Wheeldon and Ratmansky

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2010 Season of New York City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center presented by HSBC Bank USA N.A., July 6 – 17, will feature 16 stunning ballets including three opening week performances of Balanchine's full-length, story ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The classic work, based on Shakespeare's famous play, features elaborate sets and costumes and a cast of over 100 dancers including 27 children.

Other season highlights include the July 10 Ballet Gala featuring the Saratoga premieres of new works by Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon, commissioned as part of the Ballet's highly anticipated Architecture of Dance – New Choreography and Music Festival. Ratmansky's ballet is set to Edouard Lalo's Namouna; Wheeldon's to Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera's Estancia. Wheeldon's work will also feature scenic design by internationally acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava, best known for his dazzling public projects such as bridges, stadiums and train stations in cities around the world.

The summer program also features The Steadfast Tin Soldier, a beloved Balanchine work based on a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale that was commissioned and premiered at SPAC in 1975; Stravinsky Violin Concerto, which Balanchine created as part of the legendary Stravinsky Festival; several popular works by Jerome Robbins including N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz and The Concert; and Red Angels, a visually dramatic ballet choreographed by Ulysses Dove.

Located in the Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, NY, SPAC has been the summer home of the New York City Ballet since 1966. Just three hours from Boston and New York, SPAC's programming also includes the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, Modern Dance, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Saratoga Chamber Music Festival. It also hosts Lake George Opera and Live Nation concerts.

Ticket prices for SPAC's New York City Ballet performances start at $18 for lawn seats; inside seating ranges from $26 - $72.50. The "Kids Free on the Lawn" promotion entitles children 12 and under to free lawn admission for classical performances (excluding the Gala and American Girl Night); middle school, high school and college student lawn admission is $10. Order forms for tickets to New York City Ballet's SPAC season are available at www.spac.org.

SOURCE Saratoga Performing Arts Center