Can you believe BalletX is turning 20?
To celebrate, we’re bringing audiences a two-week 20th Anniversary Retrospective at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Across two programs, our artistic team has handpicked one work from each season of BalletX – pieces that embody the spirit of our company and the milestones that shaped us. Whether you’re experiencing these performances for the first time or reliving them with fresh eyes, this is a celebration you won’t want to miss. As we honor our past and look toward the future, we invite you to share a favorite BalletX memory or message with the company, because your stories are a vital part of our journey.
Keep reading to learn more, and make sure to get your tickets for each week’s program!
Program A: The First Decade
Building BalletX
The first decade of BalletX was a journey of bold experimentation. In 2006, co-founders Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan launched the company while still dancing full-time with Philadelphia Ballet, with the mission to push the art form forward by elevating contemporary, diverse voices with exceptional world premiere choreography. What began as a side project soon grew into something much larger: BalletX became the resident dance company of The Wilma Theater, expanded from a single annual series to three, and offered dancers the stability of season contracts. With each milestone, the company’s identity and voice came into focus. By the close of its first ten years, BalletX was no longer just a daring idea – it was a thriving force, creating full-length works, scaling its mission, and seeking new ways to give back to the community that made it all possible. The pieces in Program A display this journey.
The Program:
Frequencies, Die Menschheit, and Sunset, o639 Hours by Matthew Neenan
Still@Life by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Largo by Edwaard Liang
Silt by Alex Ketley
Beside Myself by Tobin Del Cuore
Delicate Balance by Jodie Gates
Beautiful Decay by Nicolo Fonte
Gran Partita by Jorma Elo
Get Program A Tickets Here!
Program B: The Second Decade
Ballet Forward & Inspired Communities
The second decade of BalletX was defined by growth and a deepening connection to community. During this time, we launched a residency at The Mann Center, grew our beloved Pop-Up initiative to bring ballet to neighborhoods across Philadelphia, and expanded our in-school education program Dance eXchange, now thriving in six elementary schools. When the pandemic brought live performance to a standstill, BalletX turned challenge into opportunity by embracing dance films, keeping its company of dancers and team members fully employed. Today, the company presents five series each year in Philadelphia, has commissioned 150 world premieres, and has toured to some of the most prestigious dance venues in the world. With 16 dancers on 52-week contracts (a rarity in the U.S. dance world), BalletX has never been stronger. The works in Program B embody this remarkable growth, showcasing the artistic ambition and expanded resources that define who we are and where we’re headed. As we close the Retrospective, we’re proud to present a world premiere by Keelan Whitmore, BalletX’s Rehearsal Director & Community Liaison.
The Program:
Big Ones by Trey McIntyre
The Letter by Jo Stromgren
Fancy Me by Caili Quan
Vivir by Darrell Grand Moultrie
We The People by Dwight Rhoden
Honey Jamar Roberts
Exalt by Jennifer Archibald
Two People in Love Never Shake Hands by Nicola Wills
The world premiere of Resilire by Keelan Whitmore
