Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet - the love story of Juliet begins shining under the stars of the Italian town of Verona when Romeo falls for her. Chiara Ajkun’s ballet captures the innocence and naivety of the young lovers as disaster looms between the Montague and Capulet families, and sends chills down your spine with the drama of Tybalt’s assassination.

This performance is part of the Face to Face Series. Also available in the Theater Series.

The Show: Renaissance Italy. A family feud between the Montagues and Capulets casts a long shadow over the city of Verona. Caught in the crossfire are the young offsprings of the two families, Romeo and Juliet. Romeo (Tafaj) is consumed by his love for Rosalina (Dollar) while Juliet (Burbine) is home, playing with her nurse (Delli Priscoli). Tragedy dooms as Juliet’s cousin Tybalt (Salce) starts quarrelling with Romeo and his friends Benvolio (Cioffi) and Mercutio (Munkherdene). Disguised in masks, these three attend a ball at the Capulets’ house to pursue Rosalina. Suddenly spellbound by Juliet, Romeo is confronted by an angered Tybalt. At the party Juliet met her promised, Paris, but is thinking of Romeo when he suddenly appears and reveals his love. With the help of Juliet’s nurse, the couple arrange to marry in hope to end the strife between their families. Tybalt kills Mercutio in a street fight and Romeo is exiled for avenging his friend. Juliet angers her parents by refusing to marry Paris and resorts to fake her own death in a desperate attempt to be reunited with Romeo. Rushed back by Juliet’s death, Romeo fails to receive the message of Juliet’s plan and takes his life in her tomb. Juliet wakes to find Romeo’s dying and kills herself. The greatest love story ever told of innocent youth is portrayed by Chiara Ajkun with intense emotions, elegant dancing and minimalist décor.

Choreography & Libretto: Chiara Ajkun

Music: Sergei Prokofiev

Performing: Ajkun Ballet Company | www.ajkunbt.org/the-company

No intermission. Attendees must have a ticket. No sales at the door.

Children are always welcome at the Ajkun Ballet Theatre. PG advised.

For Inquiries about the show, please email [email protected] or call + 1 (347) 346-9951.

Proceeds benefit "Creativity Matters!" supporting the creation of Chiara Ajkun’s original art.

The story of Romeo and Juliet, Chiara Ajkun and her Original Art - William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has inspired many ballets but perhaps the most outstanding are John Cranko’s for La Scala (1958) and Kenneth Macmillan’s (1965). Sir Kenneth Macmillan was the director of the Royal Ballet in London at a time when Chiara Ajkun was working closely with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, Macmillan’s original cast. Inspired by Macmillan’s challenging choreography, his exploration of raw emotions and the complexity of his characters, Chiara set forth her original art. Uninterested in the opulent sceneries and crowded ensembles, Chiara treasured MacMillan’s dramatic sensibility and his concept of movement as communications between dancers. In Chiara Ajkun’s Romeo and Juliet, the focus stays on the protagonists, their evolving feelings in living their fate, and the contemporaneity of facts that are tragically repeated throughout the centuries and across cultures.

The Originals is the collection of extraordinary art by Chiara Ajkun, one of today’s most influential choreographers in the world, whose creations form a pillar of visionary dance across 27 countries. Chiara’s spectacular choreography is dynamic, elegant and expressive and her one-act shows are both insightful and entertaining. This signature repertory has earned Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s worldwide reputation and continues attracting the best dancers in the roster of the Ajkun Ballet Company. See also www.ajkunbt.org/original-art

Chiara Ajkun is an Italian American choreographer, formerly a principal ballet dancer, and the artistic director of the Ajkun Ballet Theatre. Chiara has worked for preeminent companies in Australia, Europe, North and South America and for movies produced by ABC, BBC, FOX, RAI national televisions and NETFLIX, restaging classical ballets and creating original choreography. In her choreographic career, Chiara originated over 50 new ballets and received commendations by the Secretary of State of the United States of America Hilary Rodham Clinton, Awards by the Prime Minister of Malta, The London Times, Fiuggi Europa Platea, Manfredonia Awards, and by the Performing And Visual Arts Education, PAVE. Chiara was appointed “Dame Grand Cross” by Grand Master H.R.H. Prince Humbert Ferdinando the Third: “This honor is awarded to Dr. Chiara Ajkun for her invaluable contribution to the Arts. Let Dr. Ajkun’s work be of inspiration for the global community”. Chiara Ajkun has performed with Artists of 74 countries, taught Dancers from 135 countries and Chiara’s Original Art has been commissioned and performed in theaters, televisions and movies of 27 countries.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Ajkun Ballet Theatre at Ballet Arts, 130 West 56th Street, New York, United States