American Ballet Theatre to kick off national tour in Lincoln

On July 1, thousands of Nebraskans will be able to gather in one of the state’s most beautiful outdoor settings for a free performance by American Ballet Theatre.

The ABT Across America performance in Pioneers Park will begin at 8:15 p.m. Free tickets, which must be reserved in advance, are available here. The rain date is July 2.

The performance will feature dance styles ranging from traditional ballet to contemporary dance. The tour’s vision is to bring joy to communities across the country by providing an evening of dance that is both beautiful and entertaining. ABT Across America kicks off in Lincoln and will also include a stop in Chicago’s Millennium Park and a final performance in New York’s Rockefeller Center. The unique outdoor presentations are among the first live performances for ABT in more than a year.

The Lincoln performance is presented by the Lied Center for Performing Arts, made possible through support from the GK Platinum Fund and local sponsors. It is a collaboration between the Lied Center and the City of Lincoln.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored that American Ballet Theatre, America’s national ballet company, chose to launch this special tour with the Lied Center in Lincoln,” said Bill Stephan, the Lied’s executive director. “This collaboration continues a special relationship between the Lied Center and American Ballet Theatre, which included the historic performance of ‘Firebird’ starring Misty Copeland with the St. Louis Symphony at the Lied Center in 2018. We couldn’t be happier to be working with our ABT friends again, this time giving everyone in the community the chance to experience a truly world-class evening of dance for free.”

The performance will take place on a custom 40-by-76-foot stage that folds out of an 18-wheel truck. Audience members are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on the large grassy area near the Pioneers Park columns.

ABT selected the Lied Center and Lincoln as its location to rehearse and be in residence for several weeks before the tour. As part of that residence, there will be a variety of educational opportunities for local dancers. For information on the 20 dancers who will travel to Lincoln and the repertoire they will perform, click here.

“With most indoor performing arts centers still closed, these outdoor settings will allow ABT’s dancers to share their artistry, excellence and optimism,” said Kevin McKenzie, the company’s artistic director. “For the past year, we have been pursuing our mission of reaching the widest possible audience through virtual programs and digital channels. With ABT Across America, we will go beyond the digital divide to provide access to live performance experiences. The planning of this tour has galvanized our staff and company, and we hope that these performances will be joyful and uplifting for communities nationwide.”