American Ballet Theatre Studio Company brings Midwest premieres to the MAC March 25

American Ballet Theatre Studio Company brings a versatile, mixed-rep program featuring George Balanchine's beloved classical pas de deux "Stars and Stripes" and three Midwest premieres to the McAninch Arts Center on Friday, March 25.

A free MAC Chat will follow the performance.

ABT Studio Company is the same company that has trained phenomenal dancers including Misty Copeland, David Hallberg and Isabella Boylston.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Belushi Performance Hall, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn. Tickets are $50-$55. For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC box office at (630) 942-4000. The box office is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. and one hour prior to performance.

The 90-minute program is scheduled to include the following:

• "Stars and Stripes" is a 1958 pas de deux with choreography by George Balanchine and music by John Philip Sousa.

The ballet was made as a tribute to the United States, Balanchine's adopted country. As relayed in Bernard Taper's "Balanchine: A Biography," when asked why he chose to choreograph a ballet to Sousa's marches, Balanchine replied: "Because I like his music."

Balanchine (1904-1983) is one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century and is known for his musicality and ballets with minimal costume and décor, performed to classical and neoclassical music. In his homeland, he was ballet master for the Ballet Russes between 1924 and 1929. He created nine ballets in these years as well as other smaller works. After arriving in the U.S. in 1933, he would go on to create 40 more and would eventually found the New York City Ballet. It quickly became world-renowned for its athletic and contemporary style. Jerome Robbins joined New York City Ballet the following year and, with Balanchine, helped to build its strong repertory and firmly establish the company in New York.

• The Midwest premiere of the 2021 "Children's Songs Dance" featuring choreography by Jessica Lang and music selections from "Children's Songs" by Chick Corea.

"'Children's Songs Dance' draws its inspiration from the transition in life between being a child and becoming an adult, with the goal of never losing the spirit of play. My creative process with Chick (Corea) was magical. He was extraordinarily generous, passionate about sharing his music, and really excited about creating a ballet to his piece … It was a true collaboration," Lang says.

Since 1999, Lang has created more than 100 original works on companies worldwide including American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, The Joffrey Ballet, and her eponymous company Jessica Lang Dance, among many others. Lang is a graduate of The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. She is a former member of Twyla Tharp's company, THARP! which she toured and performed all over the world.

• The Midwest premiere of the 2021 "Lora" with choreography by Yannick Lebrun and the music "Lora" by Mpho Sebina.

Says Lebrun: "For this solo, I was inspired to write a letter to my younger self about future dreams and hopes."

Lebrun, originally from French Guiana, began training in his native country at the Adaclam School. After graduating high school in 2004, he moved to New York City to study at The Ailey School as a scholarship student. Lebrun was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2011, and in 2013 France-Amérique magazine highlighted him as one of the 50 most talented French people in the United States. In November 2016, Lebrun was a guest performer with The Royal Ballet in Wayne McGregor's Chroma. In 2019, he choreographed "Saa Magni," his first work for Ailey II, and in 2021 he created "Lora" for ABT Studio Company. Lebrun was a member of Ailey II and joined the company in 2008.

• The Midwest premiere of "Beyond Belief" with choreography by Sung Woo Han and the music "Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18" by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

"Nothing feels too strange to be true in today's world. Even if marble statues in a sculpture garden were to come to life in front of our eyes," observes Sung Woo.

Sung Woo, born in Seoul, South Korea, began his ballet training in his hometown and entered Korea National University of Arts at the age of 17. He has been the recipient of numerous honors including Grand First Prize at the Beijing International Ballet Invitational Competition. In 2011, he was awarded second prize from Prix de Lausanne and received a full scholarship at the Royal Ballet Company. Sung Woo joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 2013. His repertoire includes a leading role in "Monotones II," and a featured role in "Raymonda Divertissements." "Beyond Belief" is his third work created for the "ABT Incubator," an in-house choreographic workshop. His other works include "Beneath the Conscious" (2018) and "perspective of glory" (2019).

Additional works from the company's repertoire may also be featured. Program selections subject to change.

ABT Studio Company seeks to develop the next generation of ballet dancers, choreographers and audiences. Its central mission is to prepare its exceptionally promising dancers (ages 17-21) for careers in ABT's main Company or other leading ballet companies worldwide. It serves as the crucial vehicle for transitioning from student to professional performer. Nearly 80% of current ABT dancers are alumni of ABT Studio Company, including 12 principal dancers and seven soloists. Each season, ABT Studio Company commissions emerging and/or established choreographers to create new works on Studio Company dancers, serving as a platform for new choreography.