On Saturday, January 8, New York City Ballet will present the premiere of an all-new version of Peter Martins’ Todo Buenos Aires featuring guest artist Julio Bocca and set to a newly created score consisting of six tangos by Astor Piazzolla.

The original production of the ballet, which premiered on May 3, 2000, was set to two Piazzolla tangos, La Mufa and Todo Buenos Aires, which had been orchestrated by composer John Adams. For this expanded and re-choreographed version of the ballet, NYCB orchestra member Ron Wasserman has arranged six Piazzolla tangos, including La Mufa and Todo Buenos Aires, for chamber orchestra. The four other Piazzolla tangos that comprise the score for the ballet are: Patchouli, Escualo, Oblivion, and Michelangelo 70.

The original production of the ballet consisted of two pas de trois, created for Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, and Philip Neal; and Darci Kistler, Nikolaj Hubbe and Robert Tewsley. In addition to Mr. Bocca, the new production of Todo Buenos Aires, will feature dancers Darci Kistler, Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, Nilas Martins, Philip Neal, and guest artist Robert Tewsley. Although the exact origin of the tango is unclear, its history goes back to the late 1800s where working-class men gave birth to the tango in the barrios and bordellos of Buenos Aires. By the beginning of the 20th century, tango, as both a dance and as a form of popular music, began to spread throughout Argentina, and later made its way to the ballrooms of Europe and New York.

An international ballet star, Mr. Bocca was born in Buenos Aires where he began his dance training with his mother at the age of four. He studied at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon and during that time danced with the Caracas Ballet Company. In 1983, he joined the Ballet del Teatro Municipal de Rio de Janeiro as a principal dancer, and that same year appeared with the International Ballet of Caracas. In May 1985, Mr. Bocca won the Gold Medal at the Fifth International Ballet Competition in Moscow, and in 1986 he joined American Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer.

In 1997, Mr. Bocca became artistic director of Ballet Argentino, a touring group of young Argentinean dancers. With these dancers, he created “Boccatango,” a collection of dances based on the tango, which had its first United States engagement at the Joyce Theater in July 2004.

The composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was born in Argentina and later moved to New York City where he studied the bandoneon (similar to the accordion). As the founder of the Quinteto Tango Nuevo he incorporated classical and jazz elements into an avant-garde tango style that brought the bandoneon and tango music from the Buenos Aires dancehalls and nightclubs to the international concert stage.

The revised version of Todo Buenos Aires will premiere on Saturday, January 8 at 8 p.m., with additional performances on Tuesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 14 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, January 16 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling Ticket Master at 212-307-4100, online at www.nycballet.com, or at the New York State Theater Box Office.

New York City Ballet’s 2005 winter season opens on Tuesday, January 4 and continues through Sunday, February 27 at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (63rd Street and Columbus Avenue). For general information on any New York City Ballet performance call 212-870-5570, or visit www.nycballet.com.

New York City Ballet’s production of Todo Buenos Aires was funded by major grants from The Irene Diamond Fund, Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Altria Group Inc. Additional generous support was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Norman and Rosita Winston Foundation, The Eleanor Naylor Dana Charitable Trust, New York State Council on the Arts, and contributors to the New Combinations and Repertory Funds.

The creation and performance of works by Peter Martins is funded in part by an endowment gift from the Solomon family, given in loving memory of Carolyn B. Solomon.

Air transportation for Mr. Bocca’s appearance is generously provided by American Airlines, New York City Ballet’s preferred airline.