The 2010s

Artists of Boston Ballet in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker

Photo credit: Liza Voll

A COMPANY OF THE FUTURE

Building on the momentum of its 50th anniversary, the Company expanded both its national and international presence, introduced new works that would become defining works in its repertoire, strengthened artistic partnerships, invested in education, and continued bringing ballet to communities across Boston and beyond.

Mischa Santora conducting Boston Ballet Orchestra

Photo credit: Angela Sterling

Mikko Nissinen with Margaret Tracey, Tamara King, and Meredith (Max) Hodges at Newton Studio Grand Opening

Photo credit: Steven Richard

June 4, 2010: Boston Ballet began the decade with a return to Spain in 2010, embarking on a five-week tour to various regions of the country, including San Sebastían, Santander, Granada, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Company presented performances of two programs, Ultimate Balanchine and Made in Boston. The tour repertoire, showcasing the versatility and artistry of Boston Ballet, included George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments and Rubies, Jorma Elo’s Plan to B and Brake the Eyes, Sabrina Matthews’ Ein von Viel, Helen Pickett’s Tsukiyo, and Viktor Plotnikov’s Rhyme.

September 8, 2012: Boston Ballet made its debut in Helsinki, Finland, presenting three sold-out performances highlighting the Company’s dramatic and diverse repertoire at the Finnish National Opera House. The tour received an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences and critics alike. Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo joined the company on tour. Natives of Finland, Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Jorma Elo are alumni of the Finnish National Ballet School where they first met and studied together.

November 23, 2012: Boston Ballet presented the world premiere of Mikko Nissinen’s THE NUTCRACKER with new sets and costumes. Nearly 95,000 people attended performances of the beloved classic during the first season. The RE-IMAGINED VERSION of the classic story featured exquisite sets and costumes by award-winning designer Robert Perdziola. This was the first collaboration between Perdziola and Boston Ballet.

July 3, 2013: Boston Ballet returned to the London Coliseum for the first time in 30 years. The Company performed two programs showcasing the ballet’s dynamic repertoire. The tour was a success with critics and audiences alike. Clement Crisp for the Financial Times wrote, “The public shouts in delight!” while Bachtrack praised the Company’s “visceral, thrillingly enjoyable dance.”

September 21, 2013: Boston Ballet welcomed 55,000 people to Boston Common for the first-ever Night of Stars on Boston Common. The free community performance highlighted pieces from the company’s diverse repertoire, including George Balanchine’s Serenade and Symphony in Three Movements, Jorma Elo’s Plan to B, and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s Don Quixote, Florence Clerc’s La Bayadère, and Christopher Bruce’s Rooster and the world premiere of Viktor Plotnikov’s Swan. Boston Ballet dancers performed on the largest stage ever built on the Common. In honor of the event, the City of Boston named September 21, 2013 “Boston Ballet Day.”

June 25, 2014: At the conclusion of Boston Ballet’s 50th anniversary season, the Company made its historic debut at the iconic Lincoln Center at the David H. Koch Theater. The Company presented performances of two programs, including William Forsythe’s The Second Detail, Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, and José Martinez’s Resonance, Vaslav Nijinsky’s Afternoon of a Faun, George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements, Jorma Elo’s Plan to B, and Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura. The engagement followed a successful return to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts earlier that month, finishing the landmark season with two national performance milestones.

...the company is truly brilliant!

BACKTRACK (Paris 2019)

Lia Cirio, Lasha Khozashvili, and Artists of Boston Ballet in Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake

Photo credit: Rosalie O’Connor

Oct 30, 2014: Boston Ballet presented the world premiere of Mikko Nissinen’s second full-length reimagining of a classical ballet for the Company, SWAN LAKE. Nissinen considered the possibility for different endings, and ultimately decided that his version would conclude tragically yet beautifully, when Siegfried follows Odette into the lake and drowns. The production also marked Nissinen and Robert Perdziola’s second collaboration, after the success of their synergy creating Nissinen’s The Nutcracker only two years prior.

May 4, 2016: Boston Ballet announced a landmark partnership with internationally renowned choreographer William Forsythe. The collaboration creates one of the most significant collections of Forsythe ballets in the United States, with 12 works currently in the Company’s repertoire. Forsythe and his artistic team collaborated directly with Boston Ballet’s dancers, establishing a lasting creative relationship that would shape the Company’s repertoire for years to come.

Sep 6, 2017: Boston Ballet School celebrated the grand opening of its new Newton Studio, a 26,550-square-foot facility designed to support the School’s continued growth and expand access to dance education. Featuring seven studios, expanded common areas, enhanced student amenities, and features that reflect Boston Ballet School’s commitment to accessibility, leadership partnered with Gensler to create spaces thoughtfully designed for students and families alike. This new studio reflected Boston Ballet’s commitment to the training of future generations of dancers in the greater Boston area.

Aug 14, 2018: Boston Ballet announced Mischa Santora as the Boston Ballet Orchestra’s new Music Director. With both international and national experience as a conductor, composer, and music administrator, Santora has since elevated the artistry of the orchestra, earning frequent critical praise. As The Boston Globe observed, “The Boston Ballet Orchestra under music director Mischa Santora was sumptuous…” Since his arrival, he has composed multiple works for a wide variety of genres, including a soundscape for William Forsythe’s Défilé, premiered by Boston Ballet in 2022, a work for full orchestra and live electronics for Ken Ossola’s The Space Between, premiered by Boston Ballet in 2024, and most recently, a score for My’Kal Stromile’s The Leisurely Instillation of a New Window, which featured a musical collaboration with Grammy Award winning guitarist Reeves Gabrels in 2026.

Nov 1, 2018: Boston Ballet presented BB@home: ChoreograpHER as an iteration of its annual, more intimate performances in the Company’s black box studio. The evening was completely dedicated to featuring six original works by women of Boston Ballet. What began as a performance showcasing emerging choreographic voices grew into the ChoreograpHER Initiative, a multi-year commitment to championing women choreographers through commissions and creative resources. Since the launch of this initiative, Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen has commissioned eight new works by women choreographers, building on the nine he had commissioned before its inception.

Apr 9, 2019: Boston Ballet made its historic Paris debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and was greeted with sold-out performances, standing ovations, and glowing reviews from national and international critics. The Company presented William Forsythe’s Playlist (EP) and Pas/Parts 2018 alongside Jiří Kylián’s Wings of Wax. The engagement capped a decade of great successes in touring and further cemented Boston Ballet’s place on the global stage.