American Ballet Theatre:Summer Celebration
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) held its Summer Celebration on July 15, 2021, a dazzling, virtual showcase of soaring artistry including excerpts of classical, iconic ballet pieces along with the premiere of three new works: Collage & Creed by Silas Farley, Desire by Helen Pickett, and City of Women by ABT Principal Dancer, James Whiteside. All pieces were performed and filmed in quarantined “ballet bubbles” in different locations across the United States.
The First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, delivered welcoming remarks. Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tony Award winner and ABT Family member, hosted the Summer Celebration with a special guest, ABT Dancer, Erica Lall.
The program also paid tribute to the ongoing ABT Heals series of live recitals for patients and hospital staff at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, highlighted the ABT Across America tour that took place in July, and honored ABT Heroes – medical advisor Dr. Robert Galvin, and Jennifer Garner, actress and ABT’s champion supporter – who have helped the Company to navigate the pandemic.
Empire worked in close partnership with American Ballet Theatre to develop the creative and run of show, coordinate and record speakers remotely, and oversee technical and video production. The program celebrated the spirit of summer and ABT’s “ballet bubbles” by bringing to life themes of nature and vibrant colors through eye-catching landscapes, dancer silhouettes, ambient nature sounds, animations, and sweeping transitions.
Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid and live events, and is proud to work with leading arts organizations like America’s National Ballet Company®.
To support American Ballet Theatre and its magnificent dancers, brilliant choreographers, and education programs, please visit: https://www.abt.org
ABT’s Summer Celebration program is available for a limited time on ABT’s YouTube Channel.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
