Watch: Miami City Ballet and Dance Theater of Harlem in Pam Tanowitz’s Gustave Le Gray No. 1

In May 2019, Miami City Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem headlined The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America, a weeklong festival exploring the breadth and depth of American ballet.


This video captures the premiere performance of Gustave Le Gray No. 1, and we’re delighted to share it with you.

In 2019, Ballet Across America was put together with the inspiration of women’s creativity and leadership in ballet and dance. To mark the celebration, the Center commissioned choreographer Pam Tanowitz to create a world premiere work for the week’s two participating companies, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Miami City Ballet; both are companies led by visionary women – Virginia Johnson at DTH and our own Lourdes Lopez.

Tanowitz set the work on MCB’s Renan Cerdeiro and Lauren Fadeley, and DTH’s Anthony Santos and Stephanie Rae Williams, with a pianist on stage playing a solo work by the composer Caroline Shaw.

The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America occurs every few years. Multiple American companies are invited to participate in a week-long celebration featuring performances from each company. Find out more.

 

Gustave Le Gray No. 1 had its world premiere during Ballet Across America on May 31, 2019.

Choreography by Pam Tanowitz
Music by Caroline Shaw (Gustave Le Gray)
Assistants to the Choreographer: Jason Collins and Vincent McCloskey
Costumes by Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung
Lighting by Davison Scandrett

Pianist: Sylvia Jung
Dancers: Renan Cerdeiro, Lauren Fadeley, Anthony Santos and Stephanie Rae Williams