Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier will perform “Bernstein Dances” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. (photo courtesy the Music Center)

The Music Center welcomes the return of live, indoor dance experi­ences to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier. Making its company debut at The Music Center, Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier will kick off the 19th season of “Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center,” a TMC Arts program, with the West coast pre­miere of “Bernstein Dances” (March 11, 13 and 19, 2022), an original work from the company’s Director and Chief Choreographer John Neumeier. Developed as an homage to Neumeier’s home coun­try and his friend, the great American composer Leonard Bernstein, the full-length Bernstein Dances is based on Leonard Bernstein’s music and spirit and follows a structure similar to that of a revue with a collage of separate episodes resulting in a dance mosa­ic, all unified by Bernstein’s music.

“Bernstein Dances showcases the incredible talent of Bernstein and Neumeier, two American trea­sures, resulting in a phenomenal experience that celebrates music and dance,” Rachel S. Moore, pres­ident and CEO of The Music Center, explained. “Audiences returning to The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion can expect an exhilarating, uplifting performance that honors two remarkable artists and which reminds us of the joy we have all been missing. At the same time, they can feel comfortable knowing we have put comprehensive pre­ventative measures in place to help ensure they have the safest possible experience.”

Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier is famous far beyond the city of Hamburg, Germany. International tours have made the company not only a highlight of the global ballet scene, but also one of Germany’s most important cultural ambas­sadors. Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer John Neumeier, who has directed the company since 1973, is a master at combin­ing classical ballet tradition with contemporary forms in his works, while developing a unique personal choreographic language.

“Bernstein Dances” has a run time of two hours and 30 minutes, and features music from some of Leonard Bernstein’s most indeli­ble works including “Candide,” “MASS,” “On the Town,” “Peter Pan,” “West Side Story” and “Wonderful Town” as well as the complete “Serenade” (after Plato’s “Symposium”). The performances feature accompaniment by two vocalists. Hamburg Ballet joined with TMC Arts to hold local audi­tions to identify L.A.-based talent to join the company onstage. CJ Eldred was cast and will sing with Germany’s Dorothea Baumann for each of the three perfor­mances. Both understudies were also cast from the Los Angeles audition.

Dance students will enjoy a mas­ter class on March 12, 2022, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for advanced high school students. For more information, visit musiccen­ter.org/hamburg.

Hamburg Ballet will also per­form in LA Opera’s production of St. Matthew Passion, with chore­ography by John Neumeier.

Tickets for Bernstein Dances performances at The Music Center start at $34 and are available online at musiccenter.org/hamburg, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office, 135 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or by calling (213)972-0711. For groups of 10 or more, call (213)972-8555 or email mcgroupsales@musiccenter.org.