This Summer in Ballet: Honoring Tradition, Moving Boldly Into the Future

Kaitlin Wright
Jul 23
6 min read

From beloved classics to bold new works, four ballet performances showcase the art form’s past, present and future in performances this July and August.

*A scene from American Ballet Theatre’s production of "Giselle." Photo courtesy of Segerstrom Center for the Arts/Ben McKeown*

In the coming weeks, ballet companies with strong ties to Orange County will present a range of programs that blend classical tradition with contemporary experimentation. The performances include a full-length romantic ballet, a showcase of new choreography, a gala featuring international guest artists, and a themed evening highlighting American voices in dance. Together, they reflect how ballet institutions are engaging with the past while exploring new approaches onstage.

Catherine Hurlin and Daniel Camargo in American Ballet Theatre’s “Giselle.” Photos courtesy of Segerstrom Center for the Arts/Rosalie O’Connor (photo 1) and Wang Xiao (photo 2)

American Ballet Theatre’s ‘Giselle’

Romantic ballet’s quintessential tale of love, heartbreak and redemption returns as American Ballet Theatre presents “Giselle,” featuring live accompaniment by Pacific Symphony. ABT’s acclaimed production remains timeless, driven by the emotional core that makes “Giselle” endlessly relevant.

“I find ‘Giselle' to be a timeless ballet because it tells the story of how love always prevails,” said Ingrid Thoms, performing Myrta, the Queen of the Wilis. “We see this theme expressed romantically, as Giselle’s love for Albrecht ultimately saves him, but also through the sisterhood of the Wilis, who are the ghosts of women who have been betrayed by men.”

Myrta’s strength and fierce protectiveness particularly resonate with Thoms. “Portraying her in this way is of the utmost importance to me, as I want audience members to see her power within themselves and feel inspired to fight for what they believe in,” she said.

The cast includes some of ABT’s brightest talents: Skylar Brandt, Devon Teuscher, Christine Shevchenko, Chloe Misseldine, Calvin Royal III and Herman Cornejo, among others. The production features rotating casts, offering audiences a chance to experience different interpretations of the leading roles.

‘Giselle’

When: Various times, July 24–27

Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

Cost: Tickets start at $55

Contact: scfta.org

National Choreographers Initiative celebrates 21 years with the annual showing of four new works created during the NCI summer project. PHOTO 1: "Fleeting" by DaYoung Jung at the 2024 NCI showing. PHOTO 2: "SWIPE" by Cherice Barton at the 2024 NCI showing. Photos courtesy of National Choreographers Initiative

National Choreographers Initiative

Legacy and innovation intersect most literally at the National Choreographers Initiative (NCI), where artistic exploration and risk-taking are not only encouraged, they’re the entire point.

Now in its 21st year, NCI provides choreographers with professional dancers, studio space and a mandate to experiment freely. Founder Molly Lynch emphasizes that removing commercial pressure is key to the creative process.

“It’s important to also be doing it in a non-competitive environment, a nurturing situation, and not having the pressure of having to premiere a piece where you need to know that it's going to be good,” Lynch said. “I had a choreographer tell me yesterday, ‘I was going back to what I knew worked, and I don’t want to do that. I’m throwing it out and starting over tomorrow.’ And I said, good! That’s exactly what this project is about.”

Beyond the studio, Lynch takes pride in the connections the program helps foster.

“That cross-pollination is something that I think is really important,” she said. “Because now people are hiring each other. They're collaborating. So I feel proud of that.”

After more than two decades leading NCI, Lynch remains deeply motivated by the artists at the heart of the process.

“I think dancers are very special people and, you know, giving them that opportunity when they would normally be on a layoff time, you know, it's an extra little thing that they get to do that maybe inspires them for their next season or makes new connections for them,” Lynch said. “And it's also the choreographers … in dance, you need to be in the studio with dancers. You can't write it on a piece of paper.”

One of this year’s choreographers, Glenn Edgerton, whose career includes leadership at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Nederlands Dans Theater, appreciates the value of that kind of artistic freedom.

“This is very humbling,” he said. “My first choreographies were called ‘Doodle Number One’ and then ‘Another Doodle.’ There’s something to be said about having the opportunity to doodle, to explore, to go through a process of trial and error. That’s what the beauty of NCI is about.”

“We don’t always have the luxury of that kind of risk in this profession,” Edgerton added. “But here, the process is the point.”

National Choreographers Initiative Showcase

When: 8 p.m. July 26

Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine

Cost: Tickets start at $28

Contact: nchoreographers.org

Ballet Project OC’s “Liberty Rising” features a mix of classic and contemporary works exploring American identity through dance. PHOTO 1: Dancers Rachel Hutsell and Mark David Bloodgood rehearsing Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux.” PHOTO 2: Cara Hansvick and Koda Wrather in Anthony Cannarella’s “High Noon Saloon.” PHOTO 3: Lilly Leech and Andrew Playford in Ally Helman’s “Count Me In.” Photos courtesy of Ballet Project OC

Ballet Project OC’s ‘Liberty Rising’

“Tradition Meets Tomorrow” is more than a season theme for Ballet Project OC, it reflects the company’s ongoing effort to blend classical tradition with contemporary expression. That philosophy takes center stage in “Liberty Rising,” a program rooted in American culture and creativity.

“We’re drawing from Americana themes and music. Iconic songs people know and love, but also pushing into new territory with original commissions,” said artistic director Ally Helman. “There’s humor, there’s joy, and there’s celebration. It’s really about reminding ourselves of the opportunities and freedoms we have to be creative and push dance forward.”

Alongside new works, the program includes George Balanchine’s beloved “Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux,” an homage to America’s vibrant spirit. Helman also notes the inclusion of Anthony Cannarella’s playful ballet, “High Noon Saloon.” “It reminds me of if an old Western movie became a ballet,” she said. “It's a darling crowd pleaser and audiences always appreciate the humor.”

In keeping with its mission to deepen community engagement, Ballet Project OC will also hold a master class on the morning of the performance, offering attendees a rare chance to connect physically with the artistry they’ll witness that evening.

‘Liberty Rising’

When: July 26 7 p.m. (performance), morning master class also available

Where: Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks

Cost: Tickets start at $54

Contact: balletprojectoc.org

PHOTO 1: Sasha De Sola in “Diamonds,” one of the works she will perform at the gala. PHOTO 2: Sophia Koo, a Southland Ballet Academy alum currently training at the Royal Ballet School, returns to perform in the gala. PHOTO 3: Leon Sai, a current Southland Ballet Academy student and recent recipient of the Royal Ballet School’s International Scholar award. Photos courtesy of Festival Ballet Theatre.

Festival Ballet Theatre’s ‘Gala of the Stars’

At Festival Ballet Theatre’s annual “Gala of the Stars,” the continuum of ballet is on display, as seasoned professionals and gifted local students from Southland Ballet Academy, the affiliated school of Festival Ballet Theatre, led by founder Salwa Rizkalla, share the same stage.

“This is life and the profession,” Rizkalla explained. “It’s very inspiring for the young dancers to be on the same stage with stars from all over the world. They see how they act. They see how they move. They see how they eat. They see how they warm up. They know, yes, these dancers are stars, but they still have to do the work. It’s not given, it takes work behind it.”

Principal dancer Sasha De Sola of San Francisco Ballet, returning to perform at this gala, emphasized the unique atmosphere of the event. “Even as a principal dancer, I still feel very close to those formative years of training, dreaming, and discovering who I wanted to be as an artist,” she said. “To now be in a position where I can share the stage with the next generation and hopefully inspire them in some small way is a full-circle moment. I hope they see that artistry is a lifelong evolution, and that there’s space for their own unique voice in this art form.”

This year’s performance includes excerpts from George Balanchine’s “Diamonds” and Kenneth MacMillan’s “Manon,” as well as a showcase featuring Southland Ballet Academy students before the gala begins. A post-performance dinner provides an additional opportunity for audience members to connect with the artists.