Declared “America’s National Ballet Company^®” by an act of Congress in 2006, American Ballet Theatre has performed annually at the Kennedy Center since we opened our doors. With a depth of talent and the ability to present multiple casts of dancers in leading roles, the celebrated company brings Shakespeare’s tragic play of forbidden love—Romeo and Juliet. Choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan, this version of the classic story had its company premiere at the Kennedy Center in 1985.

Against the sumptuous setting of Renaissance Italy, MacMillan weaves a “dance tapestry rich in character that is rhapsodic and sensuous” (The New York Times). A master storyteller, MacMillan packs even greater drama and emotion through movement into an already heartbreaking tale. Sergei Prokofiev’s unforgettable music and Nicholas Georgiadis’ colossal sets and lavish costumes further emphasize the beauty and passion of this beloved ballet and its star-crossed lovers.