Music Theatre International Launches MTI Concert Dance, a New Licensing Division for Concert Dance Choreography Led by Elizabeth Parkinson

Over 60 Ballets by Jerome Robbins are the First Choreographic Works to Be Licensed Exclusively by MTI Concert Dance

MTI Concert Dance will license choreographed works from well-known choreographers across many genres of dance. For its launch, MTI has partnered with The Robbins Rights Trust to exclusively license the entire ballet repertory of the legendary Jerome Robbins. Among the more than 60 ballets Robbins created are Fancy Free; Afternoon of a Faun; The Concert; Dances At a Gathering; In the Night; In G Major; Other Dances; Ives, Songs; and Glass Pieces which are in the repertories of New York City Ballet and numerous dance companies throughout the world. Robbins’ last ballets include A Suite of Dances created for Mikhail Baryshnikov (1994), 2 & 3 Part Inventions (1994) created for the School of American Ballet, West Side Story Suite (1995) and Brandenburg (1996) both created for New York City Ballet.

Drew Cohen, CEO of Music Theatre International, said, “MTI is proud to bring its 70-plus years of experience as a global leader in performing rights licensing to the world of concert dance. After decades representing the theatrical work of Jerome Robbins in great musicals like West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, and Peter Pan, we are delighted to launch MTI Concert Dance by representing the catalogue of one of America’s foremost choreographers and a true artistic legend.”

“Following a decades-long partnership with MTI representing the Broadway work of Jerome Robbins, my colleagues and I are thrilled to expand that representation to include Mr. Robbins' ballet repertory. Just as MTI has actively kept musical theater classics alive and thriving, they will use those same talents to sustain the legacy and artistic vision of choreographers worldwide in a way that has never been attempted before,” stated Allen Greenberg, Trustee of The Robbins Rights Trust.  

Renowned dancer, choreographer, and educator Elizabeth Parkinson will take the reins of this new endeavor, becoming the Director of MTI Concert Dance.

“I could not be more excited about this brand-new opportunity for MTI,” said John Prignano, MTI’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Development and Education. “We are so grateful to have Elizabeth leading this endeavor for us, and to offer world-class ballets from Jerome Robbins. We look forward to adding works from other renowned choreographers and to developing dance licensing for educational groups in the near future.”

Currently an adjunct professor of dance in the Musical Theatre BFA program at Western Connecticut State University Ms. Parkinson is a highly acclaimed performer recognized for her outstanding contributions in multiple genres of the dance world. Ms. Parkinson has performed worldwide as a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, Feld Ballet, Peridance Contemporary Ballet Company, Donald Byrd/The Group, Mark Dendy and Dancers, and Twyla Tharp Dance. In 1999, Elizabeth segued to Broadway and received tremendous praise as a lead in Fosse and later in the hit Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel musical Movin’ Out, where she earned a 2003 Tony Award nomination and highly coveted Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer on Broadway.

“It is an honor to bring my history as a concert and theatre dance artist to MTI and to contribute to the creation and development of MTI Concert Dance. I look forward to facilitating the presentation of the works of Jerome Robbins and other master choreographers on stages around the world, and to creating educational programs and initiatives for dancers and dance enthusiasts of all ages and abilities,” shared Elizabeth Parkinson.

Additional information about MTI Concert Dance can be found here.