Celebrate ABT's 75th Season by Watching PBS

April 19, 2015

Make a list of the best ballet companies in the world, and I’m going to take a wild guess you put American Ballet Theatre at, or close to, the top. And of course you did—for the last 75 years, the company has helped define what American ballet is, and where it’s going. Photos of its company members line all of our childhood bedroom walls; I still gasp when I see one of its stars in real life.

(From left) ABT principals Hee Seo and Cory Stearns in rehearsal with soloist Joseph Gorak (George Seminara, courtesy PBS)

This season marks ABT’s 75th anniversary, and PBS—the TV station that recently brought Mark Morris Dance Group and the School of American Ballet to our living rooms—will help commemorate the occasion with another gem on its lineup: “American Ballet Theatre: A History,” part of the “American Masters” documentary series, will premiere on May 15.

Famed filmmaker Ric Burns is at the helm of the project, which actually started way back in 2006. Burns was given unprecedented access to the company’s inner workings, capturing hours and hours of footage, including rehearsals, performances and interviews. The documentary captures ABT stars in action—like Julie Kent, Gillian Murphy, Misty Copeland, Marcelo Gomes, Hee Seo, Isabella Boylston, Herman Cornejo, Daniil Simkin, Joseph Gorak and Cory Stearns. There’s also rare footage of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Antony Tudor, Jerome Robbins and Agnes deMille. Seriously—you don’t want to miss this!

Watch the trailer below to get pumped, then check your local listings and set your DVR!