The central part in “Apollo” (1928) — the oldest George Balanchine work that the company performs — is one of the most difficult male roles in the repertory, requiring athleticism and dramatic depth.

Balanchine regarded Apollo as his artistic coming of age. He said that through the creation of this work, he learned he could "dare not use all my ideas, that I too, could eliminate. . . to the one ...

Acosta treats the sun metaphor (which Apollo, the god of sun and art, embodies) as the warmth on his back, the light on his face. He thrusts his hands into the air palms up, collecting sunshine, ...