Experience four world premieres by internationally acclaimed choreographers
Cincinnati, OH (September 2, 2025) – Cincinnati Ballet is set to open the 2025-2026 Season with the return of their perennial favorite, The KAPLAN NEW WORKS Series, staged in the intimate Jarson-Kaplan theatre at the Aronoff Center September 12-20.
This year’s program features world premieres from four internationally sought-after choreographers—Yoshihisa Arai, Caroline Dahm, Andonis Foniadakis and Andrea Giselle Schermoly. We are excited to announce that NEW WORKS costumes are being designed by local fashion designer Eliana Batsakis and Paris-based Greek fashion designer Anastasios Sofroniou. Cincinnati native Batsakis returns for a second year as the costume designer for New Works after taking on the role last season—Batsakis, founder of her eponymous fashion brand, which has been recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America has been featured in Netflix’s Next in Fashion, Vanity Fair and earned a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 List for Cincinnati. Sofroniou, a fashion industry veteran who has worked with Foniadakis for over a decade to create original costumes for contemporary dance performances and has collaborated with companies such as Nike, Vogue US, and GQ UK, among many others.
WORLD PREMIERE | Yoshihisa Arai
Yoshihisa Arai is a choreographer and the Cincinnati Ballet-Second Company CB2 Director. Arai has created several acclaimed works for The Joffrey Ballet—Boléro, Élégie, and Afternoon Watch—and reimagined Appalachian Spring for the Joffrey Studio Company. In 2023, he directed and choreographed Cåraboo: A Chamber Opera. He has since collaborated on world premieres with artists such as Christopher Wheeldon, Alondra de la Parra, and the Colorado Ballet.
WORLD PREMIERE | Caroline Dahm
Caroline Dahm is a professional dancer and choreographer from Los Angeles, California. She has set original works on the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Ballet, Musical Theater Heritage, Newport Contemporary Ballet, and Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance Company, among others.
WORLD PREMIERE | Andonis Foniadakis
Described as “one of the most important choreographers of the moment” by Die Deutsche Bühne, Greek-born Andonis Foniadakis is known for his eccentric, futuristic style. His choreography includes commissions for Martha Graham Dance Company, Sydney Dance Company, Cedar Lake, Philadelphia Ballet, Ballet du Rhin, Ballet Jazz de Montréal, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Bejart Ballet Lausanne, and many others.
WORLD PREMIERE | Andrea Giselle Schermoly
Andrea Giselle Schermoly, a South African-born choreographer, has created and staged works for numerous companies worldwide, including Royal New Zealand Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Kansas City Ballet, BalletMet, Richmond Ballet, and Compañía Nacional de Danza, among others. Schermoly’s choreography spans stage and screen. She directed and choreographed the dance films Rite of Spring for Louisville Ballet, In Passing for The Ashley Bouder Project. choreographed for feature films, commercials, and music videos in Hollywood, including Beautiful Now, Bunheads, Get Lost, Justin Bieber/Poo Bear, and Deorro.
Tickets for The Kaplan New Works Series are on sale now, starting at $59. For more information, visit cballet.org.
PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION
WHO: Cincinnati Ballet
Choreography: Yoshihisa Arai, Caroline Dahm, Andonis Foniadakis and Andrea Giselle Schermoly.
WHAT: The KAPLAN NEW WORKS Series
WHEN:
- Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:30pm
- Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2:00pm
- Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7:30pm
- Sunday, Sept. 14 at 1:00pm
- Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30pm
- Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30pm
- Saturday, Sept. 20 at 2:00pm
- Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Aronoff Center for the Arts – 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
TICKETS: Call 513.621.5282 or visit cballet.org.
Cincinnati Ballet 2025-2026 Season Sponsors:
Margaret and Michael Valentine, ArtsWave, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council and 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.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 