Ballet Connoisseurship: Episodes

Ballet Connoisseurship is returning this spring 2023! Experience intimate deep-dives into iconic ballets, led by stars of dance. Learn about the history, creation, music, and other behind-the-scenes details of Balanchine’s Episodes, which is part of the New York City Ballet 2022-2023 performance season. Each session is $50 and light refreshments and wine will be served before and after the event. Tickets go on sale in early 2023. You can direct any inquiries to balletconn@sab.org.

Wednesday, May 3, 7:15-8:45pm 
with Jovani Furlan and Michael Trusnovec

Episodes was created in homage to Anton von Webern’s complete orchestral works. Balanchine invited modern dance titan Martha Graham to choreograph the first section for her company. Balanchine then choreographed the second section for New York City Ballet, with an additional solo for Paul Taylor, who was then a member of the Graham company and later developed his own technique and choreographic identity. Since 1961, NYCB has performed its section alone, without the solo created for Taylor.

In 2020, New York City Ballet principal dancer (then soloist) Jovani Furlan and, as guest artist, former Paul Taylor company member Michael Trusnovec brought the solo back to New York City Ballet. Furlan also performed the solo as a dancer at Miami City Ballet and Trusnovec performed it with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2019. In addition to leading a discussion of the full work, both Furlan and Trusnovec will speak to the process of learning and performing this iconic solo, comparing and contrasting the demands of the Taylor technique and Balanchine aesthetic.