![\"Roman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Midsummer-Mejia-190530-511.jpg\")
Roman Mejia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, New York City Ballet, Thursday, May 30, 2019, 7:30 p.m. David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. (Credit Photo: Erin Baiano)<\/p>\nSARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. \u2014 The New York City Ballet (NYCB) will be back for another summer in the Spa City, returning for its annual residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) from July 8-11 as part of the venue\u2019s celebratory 60th anniversary season.<\/p>\n
The residency will feature the full-length story ballet, A Midsummer\u2019s Night Dream, which was the first performance presented on the SPAC\u2019s stage during its grand opening in 1966. George Balanchine\u2019s romantic masterpiece \u2018Serenade\u2019, Jerome Robbins\u2019 Opus 19\/The Dreamer, set to Prokofiev\u2019s feverish concerto and a new work by NYCB Principal Dancer Tiler Peck, which will have its world premiere as part of NYCB\u2019s 2026 Spring Gala, will also be performed throughout the NYCB\u2019s time at SPAC this summer.<\/p>\n
Described by The New York Times as \u201cthe foremost creative ballet troupe in the world,\u201d NYCB will bring its roster of more than 90 dancers under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, led by Music Director Andrew Litton.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs SPAC celebrates its 60th anniversary season, our historic partnership with New York City Ballet feels more meaningful than ever,\u201d Chief Executive Officer of SPAC Elizabeth Sobol said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe return of A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream \u2014 the very first performance presented on the SPAC stage in 1966 \u2014 brings us beautifully full circle, honoring the legacy that has shaped this venue for six decades. From this beloved story ballet and enduring masterpieces by Balanchine and Robbins to an exciting new work by Tiler Peck, this residency reflects the extraordinary range of artistry that makes NYCB\u2019s annual summer home at SPAC truly one of a kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roman Mejia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, New York City Ballet, Thursday, May 30, 2019, 7:30 p.m. David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. (Credit Photo: Erin Baiano)<\/p>\n
Returning in celebration of SPAC\u2019s 60th anniversary and its historic partnership with New York City Ballet is A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream, Balanchine\u2019s full-length adaptation of one of Shakespeare\u2019s most cherished comedies. Inspired by the music of Mendelssohn, Balanchine captures the play\u2019s infinite colors: the bumbling comedy of the Rude Mechanicals, the feisty feuding between Titania and Oberon, the romantic confusion of the young lovers chasing each other through the Athenian forest, and of course the mischief-making Puck \u2013 in a ballet of myriad pleasures.<\/p>\n
Featuring a large cast of children from the Capital Region, A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream was the first wholly original full-length ballet Balanchine created in America and is one of the most popular ballets in NYCB\u2019s repertoire.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the season are two performances dedicated to works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and NYCB Principal Dancer Tiler Peck. The program opens with Serenade, the first original ballet Balanchine created in America, and one of NYCB\u2019s signature works. Returning to SPAC for the first time since 2008 is Robbins\u2019 Opus 19\/ The Dreamer. Originally choreographed in 1979 for Mikhail Baryshnikov and Patricia McBride, the ballet for 14 dancers is set to Prokofiev\u2019s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, which has become one of the most beloved works for violin in the classical repertoire.<\/p>\n
Closing the program is the SPAC premiere of a new work by Peck, her second commission for New York City Ballet, which will have its world premiere at the Company\u2019s Spring Gala in May. The work will be set to \u00c9douard Lalo\u2019s score Symphonie Espagnole in D Minor, with costumes designed by Robert Perdziola, and lighting designed by Brandon Stirling Baker.<\/p>\n
Widely recognized as one of the most versatile artists of her generation, Peck made her choreographic debut at the Vail Dance Festival in 2018 and choreographed her first piece for NYCB \u2018Concerto for Two Pianos\u2019 during the 2024 Winter Season. She has also choreographed for Boston Ballet, and for her curated evening Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends at New York City Center, which has toured to Sadler\u2019s Wells in London, where it will return in March 2026.<\/p>\n
Peck also choreographed for the feature film John Wick: Chapter 3 \u2013 Parabellum and has choreographed and appeared in the TV series Tiny Pretty Things and Ray Donovan. She also curated the program \u2018BalletNOW\u2019 for the Los Angeles Music Center, which is captured in the feature documentary film Ballet Now, and is the subject of PBS\u2019s Great Performances documentary, Suspending Time.<\/p>\n
As a dancer Peck has performed and originated featured roles in an array of works from New York City Ballet\u2019s vast repertory, with additional credits spanning across Broadway, television, and film.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love returning to our summer home every year, and for this 60th anniversary season, the performances feel especially significant,\u201d New York City Ballet Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan shared in the release announcing the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re bringing a range of beautiful works that span our repertory \u2013 including masterpieces from our founding choreographers and a thrilling new premiere from our very own Tiler Peck. A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u00a0is one of our most treasured ballets, and with its deep connection to SPAC we are happy to be able to bring it to Saratoga audiences for this milestone year.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerforming the ballet in Saratoga, surrounded by the beautiful park and in the open air, is always a special treat for the entire Company, and we are thrilled, once again, to have dozens of young students from the local area join us onstage for these special performances.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an effort to increase access to these performances, SPAC will once again offer special promotional ticket programs exclusive to NYCB\u2019s residency. As part of this initiative, SPAC will continue its \u201c$40 under 40\u201d ticket offer, inviting individuals up to 40 years old to enjoy $40 tickets inside the amphitheater.<\/p>\n
To make access to world-class performance more affordable for families, SPAC will continue two special promotions including a $99 Family Four Pack, which includes four amphitheater seats, and an expansion of its \u201cKids in Free\u201d program, co-presented by CDPHP and Fenimore Asset Management. The program, which currently allows children 12 and younger free access on the lawn with an accompanying adult and 50% off amphitheater tickets, will extend to kids ages 16 and younger for NYCB performances.<\/p>\n
Visit the Ways to Save page on spac.org for all offers, discounts and exclusions.<\/p>\n
Tickets will be available beginning on Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. for members (tiered by level) and on Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. for the general public. Visit spac.org for details.<\/p>\n
![\"SPAC](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/07.12.2024_SPAC-Ballet-7.12.24-Bryan-Lasky-81_credit-Bryan-Lasky.jpg\")
SPAC Ballet 2026 residency will run from July 8 through July 11. (Credit Bryan Lasky)
\nNew York City Ballet: July 8-11 schedule<\/p>\n
A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/p>\n
\u2022 Wednesday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saturday, July 11 at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Choreography by George Balanchine<\/p>\n
Music by Felix Mendelssohn<\/p>\n
Innovators & Icons<\/p>\n
\u2022 Friday, July 10 at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saturday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Serenade<\/p>\n
Choreography by George Balanchine<\/p>\n
Music by Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky<\/p>\n
Opus 19\/ The Dreamer<\/p>\n
Choreography by Jerome Robbins<\/p>\n
Music by Sergei Prokofiev<\/p>\n
New T. Peck*<\/p>\n
Choreography by Tiler Peck<\/p>\n
Music by \u00c9douard Lalo<\/p>\n
*indicates SPAC premiere<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. \u2014 The New York City Ballet (NYCB) will be back for another summer in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":134141,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[85,267,9,24,55,54,56],"class_list":["post-134140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-latest-headlines","tag-local-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-city-headlines","tag-new-york-city-news","tag-ny"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134140\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}