(NEWARK, NJ) -- The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) welcomes back two long-standing fan favorite dance events: The New Jersey Ballet (May 3-4) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Mother’s Day Weekend Series (May 10-12). The performances are part of the M&T Bank Dance Series.

New Jersey Ballet (Friday, May 3rd at 7:30pm and Saturday, May 4th at 2:00pm) - With its 65-year legacy of excellence, New Jersey Ballet is poised for a new era of creative energy under the leadership of Artistic Director Maria Kowroski. Get a glimpse of her vision for the company’s future at this performance, which includes: Purcell Suite, with choreography by one of the most exciting talents of this generation, Harrison Ball, and costumes by renowned fashion designer Zac Posen. Murder Ballades, an exuberant piece inspired by dark American folk songs with choreography by Justin Peck, and a world premiere work, choreographed by Lauren Lovette, former principal dancer of the New York City Ballet and current Resident Choreographer at Paul Dance Company.

Tickets range from $49-$69 are available for purchase online. The performances take place in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  (Friday, May 10th at 8:00pm; Saturday, May 11th at 8:00pm; and Sunday, May 12th at 3:00pm) - The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s extraordinary dancers return to NJPAC with premieres and repertory favorites for three magical performances. The Ailey company has earned a reputation as one of the finest international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of American modern dance. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is the Principal Resident Affiliate of NJPAC and has made frequent appearances dating back to the opening celebration 26 years ago.

This year’s program includes two New Jersey premieres specially commissioned for Ailey: Amy Hall Garner’s first work for the Company, CENTURY; and former Ailey dancer Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish’s duet Me, Myself and You. CENTURY is a deeply personal piece inspired by Hall Garner’s grandfather on the eve of his 100th birthday. Taking a cue from his spirited essence and set to the music of Ray Charles, Count Basie, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and more, CENTURY is a celebration of life, resilience, and joy. Me, Myself and You is a dreamlike dance about reminiscence. Set to Damien Sneed and Brandie Sutton’s rendition of “In A Sentimental Mood,” it conjures the memories of love and passion of a woman who is asking herself if she should let go or forge ahead.

Another new production is Alonzo King’s Following the Subtle Current Upstream, an audacious, non-stop piece with movement that is abstract but steeped in meaning that mirrors life’s boisterous waves. In celebration of Max Roach’s Centennial, Ailey performs Survivors, a 1986 powerful work set to Max Roach’s richly varied drumming and Abbey Lincoln’s vocals. Each performance ends with Ailey’s signature masterpiece, Revelations, which is lauded by The Washington Post as “one of the simplest and most perfect dances ever made.”

Tickets range from $25-$94 and are available for purchase online. The performances take place in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall Betty Wold Johnson Stage.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States.  It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day.  As New Jersey’s anchor cultural institution, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.  Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.  NJPAC has attracted more than 11 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. © 2019 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Top Photo Credits (L to R): 2023-2024 Season Image. Photo by Dario Calmese; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Chalvar Monteiro and Jacquelin Harris in Amy Hall Garner’s CENTURY. Photo by Paul Kolnik.