Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance (CLD) returns to New York City with performances of its acclaimed full-length theater-dance work, The Winter’s Tale, on Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11 at 7:30 PM at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (450 W 37th Street, NYC).

Set to an original score by renowned composer Martin Bresnick, conducted by Lisa Moore and performed live each evening by a sextet chamber ensemble, The Winter’s Tale exemplifies CLD’s longstanding commitment to the dynamic interplay between dance and live music.

Inspired by one of William Shakespeare’s final plays, this evocative production explores themes of jealousy, loyalty, betrayal, forgiveness, and renewal. Lavagnino’s distinctive choreographic language - blending classical ballet technique with contemporary expression - incorporates gesture-based movement influenced by sign language, creating a rich emotional landscape brought to life by her company of twelve dancers.

PROGRAM DETAILS
Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music - Mary Flagler Cary Hall
450 W 37th Street, New York, NY 10018

Performances:
Wednesday, June 10 & Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 7:30 PM

Tickets: https://buytickets.at/cherylynlavagninodance/2153576
General Admission: $30
Artist/Student: $20

ABOUT THE WORK
The Winter’s Tale tells the story of King Leontes of Sicily, whose unfounded jealousy leads to devastating consequences: the imprisonment and apparent death of his wife Hermione in the first act, the loss of their son, and the abandonment of their infant daughter, Perdita. Sixteen years later, Perdita—raised in Bohemia—falls in love with the son of Leontes’ former friend, King Polixenes. In one of Shakespeare’s most striking theatrical moments, Hermione reappears at the end of the play as a statue that miraculously comes to life, and the eventual reunion of the characters brings redemption, forgiveness, and one of his most profound conclusions.

ARTISTIC VISION
Cherylyn Lavagnino’s choreographic mission is to create work that bridges the rigor of ballet with the humanistic depth of contemporary dance. Her innovative use of pointe work and expressive movement investigates complex emotional relationships and the nuances of human connection. Music plays a central role in her creative process, shaping both structure and imagery.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM
“Warm and heartfelt… beautifully choreographed and executed. Already a compelling piece of choreography and dance theater.” - Critical Dance

“As always in Lavagnino’s choreography, you get a sense of people in motion - structures forming, dissolving, and reforming. A society in tumult, yet full of hope.” - Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal
“Martin Bresnick’s music… seems at once ancient, elegiac, and awesomely new.” - Anthony Tomassini, The New York Times

ABOUT CHERYLYN LAVAGNINO
Cherylyn Lavagnino holds an MFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Southern California. Her distinguished performing career includes roles as a soloist with Pennsylvania Ballet and principal dancer with Arizona Ballet Theatre and Ballet del Espacio in Mexico City. She has performed a range of classical repertoire and contemporary work by leading choreographers including George Balanchine, Jerome Robins, José Limón, John Butler, Hans Van Manen, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington, John Butler, and Tere O’Connor. These diverse experiences inform her signature fusion of classical and contemporary movement. READ MORE…

ABOUT MARTIN BRESNICK
Composer Martin Bresnick, born in New York City in 1946, is internationally recognized for his wide-ranging body of work spanning opera, orchestral, chamber, and film music. His compositions uniquely merge minimalist influences with rich harmonic textures, creating music that is both emotionally powerful and structurally compelling. READ MORE…