American Ballet Theatre Fall

Fresh Visions and Timeless Classics

Helen Pickett's captivating choreography opens this diverse program, followed by Jiří Kylián's exploration of human connection and a beloved story ballet set in Napoleonic Spain.

Petal
^{Choreography by Helen Pickett
Music by Philip Glass and Thomas Montgomery Newman}
As colorful as it is kinetic, Petal is an electrifying, hopeful piece inspired by the radiant hues of gerber daisies. Choreographed in 2008, this timeless ballet explores the intimacy of human touch and our fundamental need for connection. 

Petite Mort
^{Choreography by Jiří Kylián 
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart}
Petite Mort, created by Jiří Kylián for the Salzburg Festival in 1991 on the second centenary of Mozart’s death, incorporates the slow movements of two of Mozart’s most exquisite and beloved piano concertos. Featuring six men, six women, and six foils, the work channels a striking interplay of aggression and tenderness, exploring desire, energy, stillness, and vulnerability.

Paquita
^{Choreography by Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa
Music by Ludwig Minkus}
The grand divertissement from Paquita is a showcase of classical ballet elegance and virtuosity. In Natalia Makarova’s celebrated staging, a sequence of dazzling variations and ensemble dances unfolds with style, musicality, and technical brilliance. At its center, the commanding ballerina leads with grace and authority.   

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 21, 2026    7:30 P.M. 
Thursday, October 22, 2026    7:30 P.M. 
Sunday, October 25, 2026    5:30 P.M. 
Tuesday, October 27, 2026    7:30 P.M. 

Neoclassical Works

This program features pieces that draw inspiration from ballets past and move boldly into the present, from a radiant tribute to Russian Imperial style to Kyle Abraham's tradition-defying contemporary voice.

Birthday Offering
^{Choreography by Frederick Ashton
Music by Alexander Glazunov}
Created in 1956 by Frederick Ashton for The Royal Ballet’s 25th anniversary, Birthday Offering featured seven of the company’s leading ballerinas: Elaine Fifield, Rowena Jackson, Svetlana Beriosova, Nadia Nerina, Violetta Elvin, Beryl Grey, and Margot Fonteyn. Each had a solo tailored to highlight their unique gifts and artistry. Set to the lush, radiant, and warmly orchestral music of Alexander Glazunov, the ballet balances elegance with energy, and today’s dancers rise to the challenge of inhabiting these storied roles.

Mercurial Son
^{Choreography by Kyle Abraham
Music by Grischa Lichtenberger}
Mercurial Son, choreographer Kyle Abraham’s first work for American Ballet Theatre, premiered in 2024 to resounding success and returns to the David H. Koch Theater this fall.  Driven by an electronic score and propelled by swift, intricately layered movement, Mercurial Son is a striking contribution to the Company’s contemporary repertory.

Ballet Imperial
^{Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky}
George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial pays homage to the sweeping scale and ceremonial elegance of classical Russian ballet. Set to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2, the ballet evokes the splendor of the Imperial era while revealing Balanchine’s signature neoclassical brilliance.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Friday, October 23, 2026    7:30 P.M. 
Saturday, October 24, 2026    2:00 P.M. 
Saturday, October 24, 2026    7:30 P.M. 
Sunday, October 25, 2026    12:00 P.M. 

An Elegy and A Dream

With a World Premiere from ABT's own ranks, followed by one of ballet's most enchanting one-act masterpieces, this program celebrates both the future and the canon.

Trio Élégiaque
^{World Premiere
Choreography by Brady Farrar
Music by Sergei Rachmaninoff}
ABT corps de ballet member and up-and-coming choreographer Brady Farrar brings a World Premiere to the Company this Fall. Already the creator of multiple works for ABT Studio Company, Farrar adds a compelling new voice to ABT’s repertoire with this work set to the first movement of “Trio Élégiaque No. 2” by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The Dream
^{Choreography by Frederick Ashton
Music by Felix Mendelssohn}
There may be no happier ode to the illusory nature of love than Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Set to the enchanting score by Felix Mendelssohn, Frederick Ashton’s The Dream is a beguiling retelling of the comedy of errors set in the magical woods of Victorian England. 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 28, 2026    7:30 P.M. 
Friday, October 30, 2026    7:30 P.M. 
Saturday, October 31, 2026    2:00 P.M. 
Saturday, October 31, 2026    7:30 P.M. 

Special Events

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21
ABT Premiere of Helen Pickett’s Petal and return of Natalia Makarova’s Paquita
Raise a glass in celebration of the ABT Premiere of Helen Pickett’s Petal and the return of Natalia Makarova’s Paquita. Gather on the Promenade with us as we honor both thrillingly fresh repertory and the pinnacle of 19th century classical ballet. These energetic, lively ballets showcase the genius of two of the most celebrated women in ballet today.    
Separate toast ticket + performance ticket required. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 
Evening Performance  
Halloween Special Event: The Dream Costume Contest at Intermission 
Join ABT this Halloween night for an enchanted evening as the Company performs The Dream. Wear your best whimsical or eerie costume to the theater for ABT’s Halloween Costume Contest held during intermission. Prizes await the most spirited and imaginative costumes. No separate ticket required.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
ABTKids  | 11:00 A.M.
ABTKids is an hour-long family-friendly performance, designed to introduce children to the magic of ballet. Recommended for children ages 4-12, ABTKids showcases the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, ABT Studio Company, and the world-class dancers of ABT in highlights from the Company’s repertoire included in the 2026 Fall Season. Please note, all attendees are required to purchase a ticket regardless of age. 
Tickets start at $30. A limited number of $175 VIP tickets are available for purchase that include premium seating, a souvenir gift bag, and a post-performance meet-and-greet with an ABT dancer.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
ABT Fall Gala |  David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center
The ABT Fall Gala brings patrons and ballet enthusiasts together for a dazzling evening featuring captivating performances by ABT's world-class dancers, an exquisite dinner, and much more. Save the date and be part of an unforgettable night supporting ABT's artistry, education, and future. 
For more information, visit abt.org/FallGala or contact ABT Special Events at specialevents@abt.org or (347) 212-5024.

View ABT's 2027 Spring Season performances at the David H. Koch Theater.

_{Leadership support of ABT’s New Works Initiative is provided by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and through an endowed gift from The Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund.}  

_{Commissions and presentations of new works by women choreographers are supported by the ABT Women’s Movement, sparked by funding from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Champion support for ABT Women’s Movement is provided by Jenna Segal.}  

_{A special thanks to Denise Littlefield Sobel for her leadership gifts to the ABT Today Fund and ABT RISE, which are advancing the Company’s mission to create a more vibrant and welcoming future for ballet.}  

_{ABT is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.}  

_{The Company Premiere of Petal is made possible in part with support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.}  

_{This production of The Dream is generously supported through an endowed gift from Anka Palitz, in memory of Clarence J. Palitz, Jr.}  

_{The World Premiere of Trio Élégiaque is made possible in part with support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.}