Cincinnati Ballet proudly presents four world premieres for The Kaplan New Works Series; Devon Carney’s GISELLEe; Septime Webre’s THE WIZARD OF OZ; Director’s Vision: No Boundaries, which includes the regional premiere of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s DELMIRA, Alexander Ekman’s CACTIi, and David Morse’s OUR STORY — PLUS THE NUTCRACKER presented by Sheakley Family and the annual Family Series
Samantha Griffin and Nikita Boris.Joe Lyman Photography.
CINCINNATI, OH (March 7, 2024) – Cincinnati Ballet is pleased to announce today the repertoire slated for the 2024-2025 Season curated by Interim Artistic Director Cervilio Miguel Amador. The Season opens September 6 – 15, 2024 at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theatre with The KAPLAN NEW WORKS Series. Experience four world premiere commissions from Darrell Grand Moultrie, Christian Denice, Caroline Dahm, and Gustavo Ramirez. Darell Grand Moultrie has created and staged works for dance companies across the world including American Ballet Theatre, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, BalletX, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The Harlem, New York-based choreographer also served as a choreographer on Beyoncé’s record-breaking The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Christian Denice is a dancer and choreographer originally from Los Angeles, California. As a choreographer, he has created new works for such companies and organizations as Moving Arts with dancers of Cincinnati Ballet and Kansas City Ballet, Chamber Dance Project, Odyssey Dance Theatre, and DanceWorks Chicago. Gustavo Ramírez Sansano is one of Spain’s most internationally recognized choreographers. Gustavo Ramírez has been commissioned to create works for some of the most representative dance companies all around the world, including Ballet Hispánico, Jacob’s Pillow, Nederlands Dans Theater, Hubbard Street Dance, Scottish Dance Theatre, among others. He is the recipient of numerous international awards for his work. Caroline Dahm is a dancer and choreographer from Los Angeles. She has danced with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and Kansas City Ballet, among others. As a choreographer, Dahm has set works for Moving Arts for three seasons, as well as choreographed the Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Theater.
Just in time for Halloween, audiences will fall madly in love with the hauntingly beautiful Giselle at Music Hall, October 31 – November 3, 2024. Choregraphed by Devon Carney, it’s the story of a peasant girl who descends into madness and dies of a broken heart after her lover’s betrayal. Taken in by eerie ghosts called the Wilis, Giselle then enters an ethereal world where dance is the language of the soul. With live orchestration from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
No holiday is complete without a trip to the Land of Sweets for The Nutcracker presented by Sheakley Family at Music Hall, December 19 – 29, 2024. When a curious young girl named Clara receives a magical Nutcracker for Christmas, her dreams come to life. Joined by her Nutcracker Prince, Clara meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and a cast of colorful characters. With Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The 2024 – 2025 Season also marks the 50th Anniversary of Cincinnati Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
2025 begins with a trip down the yellow brick road with the return of choreographer Septime Webre’s wildly popular The Wizard of Oz at Music Hall, February 20 – March 2, 2025. Join Dorothy and her friends as they travel to the Emerald City but watch out for the Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys! This production features fantastic special effects and gorgeous sets and costumes. With music from composer Matthew Pierce performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Who’s the ‘fairest of them all?’ Snow White, of course! Cincinnati Ballet presents its annual Family Series: Snow White at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, April 24 – 27, 2025. Dance lovers of all ages will delight in the treasured fairy tale of a jealous Queen and her kind-hearted stepdaughter. This one-hour ballet with live narration features Cincinnati Ballet Second Company – CB2 dancers and young performers from the Otto M. Budig Academy. It’s the perfect introduction to dance, even for the youngest members of your family. Audiences will also enjoy free lobby games, crafts, photos and more.
The 2024 – 2025 Season concludes with Director’s Vision: No Boundaries, at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, May 1 – 4, 2025. The dynamic triple bill features work from choreographers Alexander Ekman and David Morse, and a regional premiere from choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Ekman’s Cacti is a playful and witty parody of contemporary dance. The work is an affectionate, pointed, and often hilarious deconstruction of the affectations of dance. Director’s Vision also features Delmira, a regional premiere from Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The dramatic work was inspired by the life of 20th century Latin American poet Delmira Agustini, one of the first female poets of the modern era. Ochoa tells the story using the symbolism that Agustini employed in her own writing. Both intimate and cinematic, Morse’s Our Story looks at the unique singularity of history’s darkest chapter – the Holocaust – and asks profound questions about what is required of each of us to appreciate our shared humanity. Our Story is also being performed in honor of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, an event that also marks the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and for the prevention of crimes against humanity. Cincinnati Ballet is honored to work on this project with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.
Subscriptions on sale now for the 2024-2025 Season. For more information visit cballet.org.
Cincinnati Ballet 2023-2024 Season Sponsors:
PNC, Margaret and Michael Valentine, ArtsWave, H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Foundation, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation
About Cincinnati Ballet
Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Cincinnati Ballet is a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world-premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and community engagement in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance. To that end, Cincinnati Ballet presents exhilarating performances, provides extensive education and community engagement programs, and offers top-level professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy.
Joel Lind, friend to many in the Community Theater companies in SW Ohio, died in January after a prolonged illness. This memorial is to allow his friends (theater and otherwise) and family to mingle and reminisce about Joel. Our plan is to have as many people who want to, stand on stage and tell an anecdote about our friend.
Tri-County Players is excited to announce our cast for THE 39 STEPS adapted by Patrick Barlow.
Have new or gently used children’s books that you aren’t reading? Bring them to the Aronoff Center during the run of Peter Pan to benefit Queen City Book Bank (QCBB)!
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 