THREE SHORT WORKS: Ethan Stiefel’s “Wood Work,” a hit of last season, is on the program of American Repertory Ballet at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center along with two brand new ballets by Stephanie Martinez and Meredith Rainey. (Photo by Eduardo Patino)

American Repertory Ballet opens its 2023/24 season, titled “Elevate,” at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center October 13-15. The program features world premieres by Stephanie Martinez and Meredith Rainey, along with the return of ARB Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel’s Wood Work, set to modern renditions of Nordic folk tunes by the Danish String Quartet. Plus, Stiefel will create a new solo set to “If I Could Only Fly” by American singer-songwriter and poet Blaze Foley.

Martinez’s work “explores and discusses how we never truly understand our desires, but the effort is necessary to attain happiness,” she said. Rainey said his work “leaves space for audiences to make connections to their own personal experience and draw their own conclusions.” For Intrare Forma, Rainey partners with composer Miranda Scripp, who is currently studying composition at New York University. Scripp’s mother, Beatrice Jona Affron, is the music director and conductor for Philadelphia Ballet where Rainey was a soloist dancer.

“Meredith has known me my whole life,” said Scripp. “He has taken interest in my music, and he approached me for this commission. From the beginning, Meredith made it clear that he wanted this project to be a collaboration.” The music is for string octet (four violins, two violas, and two cellos).

The theater is at 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Performances are October 13 at 7 p.m., October 14 at 2 and 7 p.m., and October 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25. Group sale discounts are available. Visit arballet.org or call (732) 745-8000.