This I did not know. According to the Northrop website, the debut of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Minnesota is “part of Northrop's new yearly commitment to presenting the work of George Balanchine in the Twin Cities.” Terrific! And what a lovely way to start.

As balletomanes know, ballerina Suzanne Farrell was for a long while the muse of the iconic ballet choreographer George Balanchine. He even referred to her as his Stradivarius, so finely tuned were their sensibilities to each other. After retiring from the stage in 1989, Farrell created her company in order to preserve Balanchine’s work (including the pieces he choreographed for her), even the rarely seen or “lost” work that lives largely in her memory.

Thursday at 4 p.m., Farrell will talk about her career with Ben Johnson, Northrop’s director, and Kim Motes, a Farrell friend and the managing director of Theater Latté Da. The event is free and will take place in the auditorium of Rapson Hall, across from the Northrop.

Friday night the ballet company, now celebrating its 10th year, will perform a mixed-repertory program of short works and dynamic sections from longer ballets. The show includes parts of three ballets choreographed by Balanchine: pas de deux from “Divertimento No. 15” and “Clarinade,” and the magisterial ballet “Agon.” Also to be performed is the Scène d’Amour from “Romeo and Juliet” by French choreographer Maurice Béjart.

Saturday afternoon’s matinee is a family program in which Farrell narrates a series of partner dances from nine Balanchine ballets.

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday, Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Tickets $33-$65. 612-624-2345.