‘Great American Dance’ coming to the movies

This fall, dance enthusiasts across America can enjoy performances by major dance companies like San Francisco Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico and New York City Ballet in their local theaters…. movie theaters that is! Lincoln Center at the Movies is set to bring exceptional artistic performances to local movie theaters with its first series, Great American Dance.

Offering a larger-than-life experience with some of America’s most inspiring dance companies, Great American Dance will give regional dance fans a front row seat and backstage pass to some outstanding classics and modern productions alike.

Framed by two timeless classical ballets, the season offers dance traditionalists something to look forward to. First up is San Francisco Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet on Thursday, September 24 at 7 p.m., featuring passionate choreography, spine-tingling swordsmanship and the celebrated score by Sergei Prokofiev. A colorful and emotional retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved tragedy, Helgi Tomasson’s bravura interpretation has packed houses around the world. According to the Huffington Post, it “lifts Shakespeare’s complex and familiar language off the gilded pages and translates it into lucid classical choreography that is visceral, fresh, and ultimately sublime.”

Next are two more modern productions, which should satisfy any forward-thinking progressives. The national film debut of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is set for Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. Captured before a live audience during Ailey’s recent Lincoln Center season, the film includes audience favorites like Chroma by Wayne McGregor, Grace by Ronald K. Brown, Takademe by Robert Battle and of course, Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece Revelations, a must-see for all. The film is directed for the screen by Matthew Diamond and features a rare look behind the scenes and exclusive interviews with the artists.

On Thursday, November 12 at 7 p.m., Ballet Hispanico will “whisk us away to contemporary dance’s hottest spot” (Washington Post) with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s CARMEN.maquia. This imaginative and theatrical showcase takes us to Club Havana, where the intoxicating rhythms of the conga, rumba, mambo and cha cha are brought to life by choreographer Pedro Ruiz, himself a native of Cuba. Hailed as a “masterpiece” by the Chicago Sun-Times, CARMEN.maquia is a Picasso-inspired, contemporary take on Bizet’s classic opera about a passionate gypsy. Riveting from start to finish, the physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco.

Lastly, the season ends with the iconic holiday production, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, by New York City Ballet on Saturday, December 5 at 12:55 p.m. and Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m. Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies transport the young and young at heart to a magical world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of toy soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets. In the NYCB’s famously extravagant staging, Balanchine’s stunning choreography shines amidst awe-inspiring set pieces, ornate costumes, and grand one-of-a-kind visual effects, like the one-ton Christmas tree that grows to an astonishing 40 feet.

All films will be presented by Fathom Events and Lincoln Center, and shown on approximately 400 screens across the country. Tickets are available at FathomEvents.com and at participating theater box offices.

Photo: AAADT’s Yannick Lebrun. Photo by Andrew Eccles.