Fall dance events: Ballet, contemporary and postmodern dance

See what the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre have in store with our rundown of the best fall dance events.

By Gia Kourlas Tue Aug 21 2012

Photograph: Paul Kolnik

New York City Ballet
Photograph: Nathaniel Tileston

Lucinda Childs in DANCE, 1979, Judson Now
Photograph: Kevin Tachman

Crossing the Line: Jack Ferver
Photograph: Rosa-Frank.com

Crossing the Line, Raimund Hoghe "Pas de Deux," Takashi Ueno

Photograph: Paul Kolnik

New York City Ballet

In our preview of fall dance events, we look at the New York City Ballet’s and American Ballet Theatre’s fall seasons, the Crossing the Line festival, the latest use of a museum as dance venue and more.

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New York City Ballet

Price band: 2/4
Critics choice

Once again, ballet crashes into Fashion Week during NYCB’s fall season: This year, the company showcases a new work by Justin Peck, a promising choreographer who sets his latest ballet to the music of indie superstar Sufjan Stevens. The season continues with the best of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, including a stellar mixed bill of Apollo, Moves and Symphony in C.

David H. Koch Theater (at Lincoln Center) 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, at 63rd St
Sat Oct 13 - Sun Oct 14

More info

Platform 2012: Judson Now

Critics choice

The fall Platform, presented by Danspace Project, pays homage to the artists of the revolutionary Judson Dance Theater, which rejected the principles of modern dance in favor of a fresh, pedestrian approach. This year marks the organization’s 50th anniversary, and it’ll celebrate with a series of events and performances by postmodern luminaries including Lucinda Childs, David Gordon, Steve Paxton and Yvonne Rainer. Danspace will also host showings by current choreographers inspired by Judson ideas. 866-811-4111, danspaceproject.org. Various times, visit the website for details. $18, members $12; conversations $10.

Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 E 10th St at Second Ave
Wednesday, September 5 - Saturday, December 1, 2012

Some sweet day

Critics choice

The use of NYC museums as venues for dance continues this fall, when the Museum of Modern Art commissions the artist and choreographer Ralph Lemon to curate a three-week program of contemporary choreography. For each segment, Lemon will pair two choreographers from different backgrounds and generations: Steve Paxton and Jérôme Bel; Faustin Linyekula and Dean Moss; and Deborah Hay and Sarah Michelson constitute the lineup. 212-708-9400, moma.org. Various times. Included with museum admission; $25, seniors $18, students $14, children under 16 free.

Museum of Modern Art, 11 W 53rd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves
Monday, October 15 - Sunday, November 4, 2012

Crossing the Line 2012

Price band: 2/4
Critics choice

This interdisciplinary festival—presented by the French Institute Alliance Française—is one of the season’s great joys. For this sixth installment, Lili Chopra, Gideon Lester and Simon Dove have chosen work that defies genre, including pieces by choreographers DD Dorvillier, Sarah Michelson and Jack Ferver, as well as the return of Raimund Hoghe and the French director Pascal Rambert. Forget about categories; this is a whirlwind of art.

Various locations 466 Grand St, at Pitt St
Fri Oct 12 - Sat Oct 13

More info

American Ballet Theatre

Critics choice

The delight of ABT’s brief fall season is sure to be the premiere by Alexei Ratmansky: Set to Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9, the new work marks the first of three one-act ballets to be unveiled at the Metropolitan Opera House in the spring. Other City Center highlights include the 70th anniversary of Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, Mark Morris’s Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room. The last one, in particular, is a slice of heaven. 212-581-1212, nycitycenter.org. Various times. Tickets start at $20.