Mary Barton (Photo Credit: Richard Termine)

American Repertory Ballet (ARB) opens its 2017-2018 season with a full evening of works celebrating 15 years of Mary Barton’s choreography by showcasing three of her most recognized works in a program entitled Woman of Dance: Celebrating the Work of Mary Barton, on Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m. at Rider University’s Bart Luedeke Center Theater in Lawrenceville. 

The program feature “Scarlet Sonata,” a scintillating, technically challenging work for five women; “Five Men and a Concerto,” a work for five men which highlights the male form, set to the strong drive and melody of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Oboe; and the imaginative and thrilling “Straight Up with a Twist” (an ARB signature performance since its inception), a work set to the eclectic sounds of  Kaila Flexer and Third Ear which showcases the versatility of ARB’s dancers and Barton’s choreographic genius.

Woman of Dance: A Celebration of Mary Barton is really a two-fold celebration – honoring her contribution over the last seven years as American Repertory Ballet’s Resident Choreographer as well as acknowledging her role as a choreographer to this organization for the past 15 years,” says Douglas Martin, ARB Artistic Director. “Mary is a very gifted and talented choreographer and her work is a testimonial to the strength of female choreographers in America today.”

Tickets are $20 and $15 for students and seniors are available online at arballet.org; by phone (609) 896-7775; or in person at the Bart Luedeke Center box office.

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