Pithoprakta Suzanne Farrell restored this rarely-seen Balanchine ballet in 2007 as part of her company’s Balanchine Preservation Initiative. The music, by Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, uses the principles of “chance,” (pithoprakta means ‘action by probabilities’); in the ballet, the two leading dancers perform a pas de deux during which they simulate partnering but seldom touch.

“I could no less help applauding the way in which dancers, tackling arduous roles for the first time, were delivering them with degrees of energy, scale, detailed nuance and musical sophistication seldom found anywhere.” – Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times

“For this ‘Balanchine Preservation Initiative’ and other reasons, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet is one of the most courageous projects in ballet today.” – Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times

“[Farrell’s] triumph here is that she has been able to reveal Balanchine’s work as he must have intended it. That’s her gift to him, and to us as well.” – John Rockwell, The New York Times

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet made its debut during the Kennedy Center’s Balanchine Celebration in 1999. Since its formation, the company has performed annually at the Kennedy Center and has toured both nationally and internationally with a repertoire that has grown to over thirty ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Maurice Béjart. Committed to carrying forth the legacy of George Balanchine, the company announced the creation of the Balanchine Preservation Initiative in 2007, dedicated to introducing rarely seen or “lost” Balanchine works to audiences around the world. This is the company’s first appearance in New York.

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet’s 2008 season will continue at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. October 8th through the 12th. For more information visit www.suzannefarrellballet.org