American Ballet Theatre’s studio company, ABT II, performs an eclectic program of classical and contemporary works Saturday night at Northrop. The troupe of 12 dancers — ages 16 to 20 — are selected for this training program as preparation for joining American Ballet Theatre’s main company, or other national and international professional companies.

Because they’re considered potential future talent, the students are given an intensive roster of works to perform on tour. The Northrop program, for example, includes three rigorous classical pieces that test the ballerina’s nerves, technical training, artistic acumen and capacity for virtuosity in performance:

• George Balanchine’s neoclassical “Allegro Brillante” (1956), created for and made famous by his then-wife Maria Tallchief;

• The “Rose Adagio” solo (with four courtiers) from Marius Petipa’s romantic story ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” (adapted by ABT II’s artistic director, Wes Chapman);

• And the pas de duex from “Flames of Paris” (1932), choreographer Vasily Vainonen ballet about the French (read Russian) revolution (again adapted by Chapman).

Wondering what Chapman’s adaptations involved?

You can ask him during a pre-performance chat (7:15) in the Northrop basement. Also on the program that evening is rising star Azsure Barton’s “Barbara”(2008), set to music by the French chanteuse. ABT II commissioned Roger VanFleteren, of the Alabama Ballet, to make “Pavlovsk” (2009) for the studio company. And “Interplay” (1945) by Jerome Robbins is part of the mix, as well.

To view snippets of these works, go here.

8 p.m. Saturday. Northrop, University of Minnesota. Tickets, $13-$58. 612-624-2345.