Lar Lubovitch’s Othello is Shakespeare meets drambalet at ABT

Calvin Royal III in Othello: A Dance in Three Acts

Fangqi Li and Calvin Royal III in Othello: A Dance in Three Acts

Calvin Royal III and James Whiteside in Othello: A Dance in Three Acts

By Ivy Lin, 08 March 2026

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“ABT’s greatest strength has always been its roster of dancers who can really act”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: David H Koch Theater, New York City on 6 March 2026

Othello: A Dance in Three Acts (Lar Lubovitch)

American Ballet Theatre

George Tsypin, Set Designer

Ann Hould-Ward, Costume Designer

Pat Collins, Lighting Designer

American Ballet Theatre Orchestra

Contemporary escapism at New York City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 1st May

A longtime NYCB fan favorite, Concerto DSCH by Alexei Ratmansky, meets the New York premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's Continuum. But the evening belonged to corps dancer Ruby Lister in Edwaard Liang’s Distant Cries.

****1

Balanchine's Baiser de la fée still doesn't work

Ivy Lin, 19th September

Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée is revived infrequently. It is an odd ballet, as if Balanchine’s couldn’t quite resolve his troubles choreographing to this piece.

****1

New York City Center’s Fall for Dance 2020

Ivy Lin, 29th October

New York City Center’s annual Fall for Dance festival heads online in a pair of programs, one much stronger than the other.

****1

Lar Lubovitch: A Golden Anniversary

Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn, 20th April

At its best, Lubovitch's work elevates the spirit and serves as a reminder that there’s beauty in the world.

***11

ABT's Othello

Carla Escoda, 19th May

American Ballet Theatre revives Lar Lubovitch's 1997 Othello with Marcelo Gomes, Julie Kent, James Whiteside, and Stella Abrera in the lead roles. Unfortunately, the formidable dancing and acting could not survive the calamitous score.

**111

Lar Lubovitch's shapely choreography a good mix of trite and appropriately mystifying

Rachel Rizzuto, 9th October

In the Joyce Theater’s Wednesday night program for the 45th anniversary of Lar Lubovitch’s company, Mr Lubovitch presented three duets – bits of fluff, really – and one enigmatic piece for nine men that has left me bewildered and yet decidedly in favor of it.

***11

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Ivy Lin

Ivy Lin's love of ballet began in high school when at the school dance she quickly realized she had two left feet. One always admires things one cannot do, and so Ivy began to attend dance performances to marvel at the grace and beauty of bodies in motion. Ivy's day job is a biology teacher and after a long day in the classroom she loves to unwind by watching dance. She also enjoys theater, opera, pop and classical music. Ivy has her own blog (www.humbledandoverwhelmed,blogspot.com)

Lar Lubovitch’s Othello is Shakespeare meets drambalet at American Ballet Theatre