Dances Patrelle shares the three ballets making up In Dance, Francis Patrelle from March 27 – 29, 2026 at MMAC (248 West 60th Street). The festival is presented in honor of the company’s late founder, Francis Patrelle, who passed away in December of 2025.
The evening opens with Double Martini, a bold and risqué romp through the songs of the 1920s and 30s, with choreography by Francis Patrelle and live music arranged by Jerome Korman. The world premiere of Three Paces Down, choreographed by Magali Johnston-Viens and inspired by the poems of Djuna Barnes, Renée Vivien, Nancy Cunard and Gertrude Stein, and a painting by Pablo Picasso, is set in the literary salon culture of 1920s Paris. In Gilbert and Sullivan, The Ballet! “Act 3, Pinafore.” Francis Patrelle shows his mastery of the story ballet with this send-up of both the Gilbert and Sullivan classic and the artists’ struggles to get it on the stage. Eighteen dancers, live piano, and four singers make this an event not to be missed.
Francis Patrelle (1947–2025), a Juilliard graduate, was renowned for his dramatic, story-driven ballets presented in cities including Tokyo, Rome, Toronto, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and especially New York City. He created roles for leading dancers and choreographed for major opera companies such as Santa Fe Opera, Vienna State Opera, and Houston Grand Opera.
As resident choreographer for Albany Berkshire Ballet, he created full-length Romeo and Juliet and Firebird; at St. Louis Ballet, a full-length Swan Lake. In 1988, he founded Dances Patrelle, producing dozens of works including his popular American songbook series (American Dreamer, Rhapsody in Blue, Jazz/Fools, Come Rain/Come Shine, Glad to be Unhappy, POP!) and full-length ballets such as Macbeth (1995), The Yorkville Nutcracker (1996), Murder at the Masque: The Casebook of Edgar Allan Poe, Gilbert and Sullivan, The Ballet! (2011), The American Dream, It’s Only Business (2019), and the video ballet Separation (2021).
A dedicated teacher and mentor, Patrelle taught at Manhattan School of Music and Ballet Academy East, and choreographed for students at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Juilliard Dance Ensemble, and others.
He received the ARTY Award from the Long Island Arts Council (1999), three Dance Magazine Foundation grants, the Choo San Goh Award for Choreography (2008), the first Playing Field Award from Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, and a Proclamation of Excellence from NYC Council Member Ben Kallos. In 2013, Dances Patrelle became resident company at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center.
“In Francis Patrelle’s ballets, the characters come alive. His choreography is full of heart and soul.” – Cynthia Gregory, Prima Ballerina
In Dance, Francis Patrelle will take place March 27-28 at 7PM and March 29 at 6PM. Please note that March 28 tickets include an afterparty with the artists. Tickets are $53 and can be purchased here.
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