NYC Ballet Turns 75 Years

This 2023-24 season, NYC Ballet (NYCB) is celebrating 75 years with a homage to the Company’s heritage while continuing to build on its legacy. The fall season begins on September 19 at the David H. Koch Theater and showcases 18 ballets by co-founder George Balanchine, starting with Jewels. The popular program is broken into three parts—emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, each accompanied by music from a different composer. The opening night performance will pay tribute to the more than 750 dancers who have performed with NYCB since its inception, and more than 250 alumni dancers will be in attendance.

Beginning on September 18 and continuing through October 1, NYCB will present SlowDancing/NYCB, a large-scale video installation by Artist David Michalek and co-directed by Wendy Whelan, NYCB’s Associate Artistic Director, which will be displayed each night on the façade of the Company’s home, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. More than 50 hyper slow-moving images of 20 of NYCB’s current dancers performing iconic moments from the Company’s unparalleled repertory will play on a continuous loop each night from 7pm to 11:30pm for the public to see for free.

The anniversary celebrations continue on September 30, when NYCB will host an open house. People of all ages are welcome to join a range of activities, including a children’s access workshop, an open onstage company class, and an onstage performance. There are also tickets to the All Balanchine II performance that evening at 8:00pm, available for as low as $19.48. There is limited availability, so click here to make your purchase ASAP and learn more about the open house here. 

The Fall Gala on October 5 will feature iconic works by both founding choreographers, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Who Cares? will kick off the program, while Glass Pieces will close it out. On October 11, the NYC Ballet will re-create its first-ever performance, which occurred on the same day in 1948, featuring Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Orpheus, and Symphony in C. 

You can learn all about NYCB's fall season and 75th anniversary celebration launch in this press release. NYCB also has full winter and spring seasons, which will explore the evolution of the Company’s repertory as well as premiere new ballets. Of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® will return for the holiday season, too. Tickets for the entire season are available online here, or by phone at 212-496-0600. Subscription packages are available here.

Photo: New York City Ballet in George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, by Erin Baiano