For the first time in its history, New York City Ballet will divide into two performing units and embark on separate international tours this fall. One-half of the Company will travel to Brazil for performances in Sao Paulo (Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, Teatro Municipal), Rio de Janeiro (Oct. 4 - 6, Teatro Municipal) and Salvador (Oct. 9 - 10, Teatro Castro Alves). The other half will travel to Seoul, Korea, (Oct. 1 - 5, Seoul Arts Center), Taipei, Taiwan (Oct. 8 - 12, National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center, National Theater) and the Melbourne Festival, Melbourne, Australia (Oct. 16 - Oct. 19, State Theater).
Repertory performances for the Brazilian Tour will include works by George Balanchine and Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, and the Pacific Rim Tour repertory will include works by Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Martins (see below and next page for touring programs and Principal Dancers and Soloists).
"New York City Ballet is unique among classical ballet companies, known for its breadth of repertory and the speed and athleticism of its dancers," said Mr. Martins, "and we want to share our artistry with audiences the world over." These two precedent-setting, international tours, mark the Company's first visits to Brazil, Korea and Taiwan, and its first Australian tour since 1958.
Performances and Principal Dancers and Soloists for the Brazilian Tour are as follows:
| Rio de Janeiro: |
| Program A | Program B |
| Apollo (Stravinsky/Balanchine) | Square Dance (Vivaldi and Corelli/Balanchine) |
| Tschaikovsky Pas De Deux (Tschaikovsky/Balanchine) | The Four Temperaments (Hindemith/Balanchine) |
| Barber Violin Concerto (Barber/Martins) | Fearful Symmetries (Adams/Martins) |
| Who Cares? (Gershwin/Balanchine) |
| Sao Paulo and Salvador |
| The Four Temperaments (Hindemith/Balanchine) |
| Tschaikovsky Pas De Deux (Tschaikovsky/Balanchine) |
| Fearful Symmetries (Adams/Martins) |
| Who Cares? (Gershwin/Balanchine) |
| Principals: | Merrill Ashley, Nichol Hlinka, Nikolaj Hubbe, Nilas Martins, Jock Soto, Wendy Whelan and Damian Woetzel. |
| Soloists: | Yvonne Borree, Stacey Calvert, Monique Meunier, and Alexander Ritter |
| Corps: | 18 Women, 13 Men |
Performances and Principal Dancers and Soloists for the Pacific Rim Tour are as follows:
| Seoul and Taipei |
| Program A | Program B |
| Interplay (Gould/Robbins) | Donizetti Variations (Donizetti/Balanchine) |
| Tschaikovsky Pas De Deux (Tschaikovsky/Balanchine) or Duo Concertant (Stravinsky/Balanchine) | The Four Temperaments (Hindemith/ Balanchine) |
| Barber Violin Concerto (Barber/Martins) | Fearful Symmetries (Adams/Martins) |
| Who Cares? (Gershwin/Balanchine) |
| Melbourne |
| Program A | Program B |
| Interplay (Gould/Robbins) | Donizetti Variations (Donizetti/Balanchine) |
| Tschaikovsky Pas De Deux (Tschaikovsky/Balanchine) or Duo Concertant (Stravinsky/Balanchine) | Barber Violin Concerto (Barber/Martins) |
| The Four Temperaments (Hindemith/Balanchine) | Rubies from JEWELS (Stravinsky/Balanchine) |
| Principals: | Helene Alexopoulos, Peter Boal, Albert Evans, Darci Kistler, Philip Neal, Margaret Tracey and Miranda Weese. |
| Soloists: | Samantha Allen, James Fayette, Tom Gold, Peter Hansen, Kipling Houston, Maria Kowroski and Kathleen Tracey. |
| Corps: | 17 women, 11 Men |
"We are grateful to Fuji Xerox for sponsoring the Pacific Rim Tour, and I want to extend a special thanks to Paul Allaire, a member of our board and chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation, for bringing us together," said Mr. Martins. Yotaro Kobayashi, chairman and chief executive officer of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., responded, "At Fuji Xerox, we continually strive to deliver the highest quality products and service to our customers. We are especially pleased, therefore, to be associated with New York City Ballet, one of the world's premier ballet companies, and to help bring its high level of artistry to new audiences through this tour."
"I also want to thank The Freeman Foundation for providing major support for our performances in Taipei and Seoul," added Mr. Martins. "Part of the Foundation's gift will enable us to offer master classes and other educational outreach while visiting these two cities, activities that will deepen the understanding between our cultures."
Local sponsorship of New York City Ballet's engagement at the Melbourne Festival is provided by AT&T and Edison Mission Energy; at the Seoul Arts Center by Philip Morris Korea and Ford Motor Company Korea; at the National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center by Fu-Hua Hotel.
Following both international tours, New York City Ballet will return to the United States to prepare for its 1997-98 Winter Season (November 25 through March 1) at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center.
For additional information regarding New York City Ballet's fall tours, please contact the Press Office at (212) 870-5690.
*Tour programs and Company rosters subject to change.
