“Opportunities always come when you least expect them,” says Septime Webre. In 2016, he’d left The Washington Ballet, after 17 years as artistic director, to focus on his choreography career. Halfway around the world in East Asia, Hong Kong Ballet was hiring a new director for its following season, and Webre’s agent convinced him to […]
Wonder what’s going on in ballet this week? We’ve rounded up some highlights. NYCB’s Spring Gala Features World Premieres by Justin Peck and Pam Tanowitz New York City Ballet’s spring season continues this week with two world premieres, presented as part of the company’s annual spring gala on May 2. The first, by Justin Peck, […]
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore,” Dorothy famously announces in the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Kansas City, Missouri, rather, is where audiences will find Dorothy this fall. October 12–21, Kansas City Ballet presents the world premiere of choreographer Septime Webre’s The Wizard of Oz at the Kauffman Center for […]
Just last year, we announced that Septime Webre was stepping down as The Washington Ballet’s artistic director after 16 years at the helm. Since then, he’s staged his work at companies all over the country, choreographed a cheeky ’60s-themed ad campaign and stepped in as artistic director of DC–based arts incubator Halcyon. Now, he’s about […]
From Paris to Washington, D.C., there seems to be something in the air affecting ballet directors. On the heels of Benjamin Millepied’s startling resignation announcement last week, The Washington Ballet has disclosed the impending departure of Septime Webre; the company’s longtime artistic director will step down at the end of the season. “My current contract […]
For 19-year-old Abigail Brent, getting promoted into The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company was, she says, “a dream come true.” After spending a year in TWB’s trainee program, the Charlottesville, Virginia, native started with the Studio Company—which performs in main-company productions as well as in its own shows—last fall. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with […]
Originally from Cuba, Gian Carlo Perez joined Houston Ballet this season as a first soloist after a long career at The Washington Ballet. And he is already making his mark in ballets like Stars and Stripes, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Nutcracker, and more. Below he talks about his childhood idol, his pre-performance routine, and […]
Xuan Cheng’s resumé is an impressive list of competitions, companies and roles. But beyond her laudable accomplishments is a tenacious dancer whose curiosity to see the world shaped a 22-year performance career that is, apparently, far from over. Cheng, born in Chenzhou, China, was only 10 when she moved away from home to enter the […]