BalletNEXT

This program will include the Eccles Theater debut of 2by2, choreographed by the BalletNEXT artistic director Michele Wiles. 2by2 will be performed alongside classical guitar soloist Sophie Stanley. This piece is a breath of fresh air, enlivened by the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian street music.

Second in the program will be the World Premiere of Michele Wiles’ Petrichor. Meaning the smell of rain, Petrichor is set to Max Richter’s Infra and once again features the company dancers of BalletNEXT and live accompaniment from the musicians of StringFX

Also presented is the Eccles premiere of the duet La Follia, by Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti. Commissioned and premiering originally in 2011, La Follia features strong ballet techniques fused with modernism set to the Vivaldi sonata with the same name. The ballet, created by two powerful women, summons serious balances, and the tensions by the baroque music demand an all-out performance that is sure to excite.

Completing the program will be The Devil Wears Pointe Shoes, a rousing western-themed ballet sure to delight, once again featuring the dancers of BalletNEXT and accompaniment from StringFX.

BalletNEXT founded in 2011 by former principal ballerina of American Ballet Theatre Michele Wiles, BalletNEXT is a platform to collaborate with world-class dancers, choreographers, and musicians, encouraging risk-taking as the company creates unexpected performances.