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Behind the Scenes

Duke Ellington: Iconic American Musical Voice

Boston Ballet Music Director Mischa Santora reflects on the life and legacy of Duke Ellington, one of the greatest jazz composers and bandleaders of his time.

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Behind the Scenes

Get to Know Stephen Galloway

Stephen Galloway: Dancer. Costume Designer. Creative Movement Director…and now Choreographer for Boston Ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

Get to Know Helen Pickett

Helen Pickett has been professionally choreographing for 14 years. She also has strong ties to Boston Ballet, where she got her choreographic start.

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Behind the Scenes

Who Is Jorma Elo

Get to know Boston Ballet’s resident choreographer, Jorma Elo.

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Behind the Scenes

The Four Major Styles of Ballet

Discover the different styles of ballet and what makes each unique.

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Behind the Scenes

The Evolution of Dance Education during a Worldwide Pandemic

Reflecting on Boston Ballet School's early response to the pandemic and outlining the path forward.

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Behind the Scenes

Get to know Brandon Stirling Baker, Lighting Director

Brandon Stirling Baker is an acclaimed lighting designer who has worked for ballet, opera, and theatre companies around the world.

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Behind the Scenes

Transforming the Narrative of Carmen

Follow the trajectory of Carmen throughout the centuries, and discover how Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo devised his rendition for Boston Ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

32 Fouettés, 32 Thoughts

Swan Lake is known for its soaring score, spellbinding story, captivating costumes, and one of the most famous moments in ballet—32 breathtaking fouettés.  

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Behind the Scenes

The Story of Swan Lake

Explore the story of Swan Lake, a dark and mystical tale of enchantment, deception, and the power of true love.

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Behind the Scenes

10 Things to Know About Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake

Discover the hidden details behind Mikko Nissinen’s riveting production of Swan Lake.

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Behind the Scenes

Updating The Nutcracker and Swan Lake for Boston Audiences

Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen shares his process behind updating two beloved ballets.

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Behind the Scenes

Who is Jiří Kylián?

Get to know Jiří Kylián, the man behind several audience favorites including Bella Figura, Petite Mort, and Wings of Wax.

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Behind the Scenes

A Balancing Act: Boston Ballet Dancers on Being Mothers

This season, Principal Dancers Ashley Ellis and Seo Hye Han welcomed new baby girls into their lives. They, along with Viktorina Kapitonova and Ekaterine Chubinidze, share how they balance motherhood and professional dance careers.

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Behind the Scenes

Making of a World Premiere: Costumes that Rock

Go behind the scenes as Stephen Galloway collaborates with Boston Ballet’s Costume Shop on fashion-forward designs for his rocking world premiere.

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Behind the Scenes

How Forsythe Started a rEVOLUTION

Dive into the historical significance of William Forsythe’s electrifying global sensation In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.

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Behind the Scenes

Balanchine’s rEVOLUTIONary Modernism

Explore the unprecedented impact of George Balanchine’s Agon on the world of dance.

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Behind the Scenes

Celebrating the Legacy of Jerome Robbins

Assistant Artistic Director Russell Kaiser reflects on working with Jerome Robbins and performing his Glass Pieces with New York City Ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

Inside Look: The Making of a Tutu

Light, beautiful, and wonderfully ethereal, the tutu is a timeless symbol of classical ballet that has evolved over the years but remains an integral part of the art form.

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Behind the Scenes

Read the full story: The Nutcracker

It is Christmas Eve in a small town in Germany, in the 1820s. In the town square, the mysterious Drosselmeier presents a performance in his Children’s Street Theatre and then hurries off to the Silberhaus’ Christmas party with his gifts.

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Behind the Scenes

The Rich Legacy of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Uncover the chronicles of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, a holiday tradition that has captured the hearts of audiences for over five decades.

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Behind the Scenes

Time to Shine: Dancer Debuts in The Nutcracker

Company dancers Tigran Mkrtchyan, Chisako Oga, and Lily Price share their debut experiences in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker.

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Behind the Scenes

Holiday Traditions with The Nutcracker

Audience members share how they celebrate the holiday season with The Nutcracker.

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Behind the Scenes

Ten Things to Know about Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker

How well do you know Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker? Get the inside scoop on New England’s most beloved holiday tradition.

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Behind the Scenes

The Making of Mother Ginger

From studio to stage, bringing Mother Ginger to life is a feat as large as her skirt.

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Behind the Scenes

Empowering Women through the ChoreograpHER Initiative

Six female Company dancers are sharing stories and having their voices heard by creating new works for BB@home: ChoreograpHER

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Behind the Scenes

Giselle Synopsis

This is the story of Giselle, a lovely peasant girl with a weak heart and a passion for dancing. 

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Behind the Scenes

Larissa Ponomarenko’s Journey with Giselle

Larissa Ponomarenko reflects on her relationship with Giselle, from dancing the iconic role to staging it for Boston Ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

History of Boston Ballet’s Giselle

Discover the enduring legacy of Boston Ballet’s Giselle, one of the most beloved cornerstones of classical ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

The Captivating Costumes of Giselle

Go behind the scenes of the Costume Shop and Wardrobe department to learn more about the hauntingly beautiful costumes of Giselle.

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Behind the Scenes

Balanchine and Boston Ballet—a lasting legacy

George Balanchine, "father of American ballet," has been with Boston Ballet every (en pointe) step of the way. From birth to today, his mark is indelible.

 
 

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Behind the Scenes

10 Things to Know About Christopher Wheeldon

Meet the creative mind behind some of today’s most exciting ballets and Broadway shows, and even the Olympic Games. 

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Behind the Scenes

Who is Jerome Robbins?

Get to know this extraordinarily prolific creator, whose work crisscrossed the realms of ballet, Broadway, film, and television.

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Behind the Scenes

Who is William Forsythe?

William Forsythe’s influence extends far beyond the dance realm. Here are 10 things to know about the world-renowned choreographer.

 

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Behind the Scenes

Artist and Athlete: The Health and Wellness of Dancers

Discover what it takes physically and mentally for dancers to thrive as both artists and athletes.

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Behind the Scenes

Becoming The Nutcracker Bear

Go behind the scenes and get your paws on the secrets behind Boston’s most beloved Bear.

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Behind the Scenes

New Company Artist Patric Palkens’ Holiday Homecoming

New England native Patric Palkens tells us about his first Nutcracker experience and what you can expect from him this holiday season.

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Behind the Scenes

What to Listen For: Genius at Play

Get your toes tapping to the tunes of Genius at Play and explore the music Jerome Robbins selected for Fancy Free, Interplay, and Glass Pieces.

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Behind the Scenes

Hit Play: The Music and Movement of Blake Works I

Four Company dancers share what it’s like to dance to the unique soundtrack of Blake Works I and rehearse with Bill Forsythe.

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Behind the Scenes

Coppélia and The Nutcracker: Classical Ballet’s Dynamic Duo

From magical characters to high-spirited music, you’ll be surprised by how much these beloved ballets have in common.

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Behind the Scenes

Coppélia

A romantic comedy of foolish fantasies and mistaken identities.

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Behind the Scenes

Dressing the part: Costumes in Coppélia

Before the magic of Coppélia can unfold on stage, a bit of magic must happen in the Costume Shop.

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Behind the Scenes

The Kids of Coppélia

For Boston Ballet School students, performing in Coppélia alongside Company dancers is a dream-come-true experience.

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Behind the Scenes

Cinderella

A fairytale classic that sparkles with heart and humor.

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Behind the Scenes

Telling the Cinderella Story

The magical fairy tale we know and love has taken many forms around the world and across the ages.

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Behind the Scenes

Inside Look: Making Cinderella Sparkle

Take a peek inside the Costume Shop as the team works their fairy godmother magic on the costumes of Cinderella.

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Behind the Scenes

Switching Roles from Dancer to Choreographer

Principal Dancer Paulo Arrais shares his process behind creating his first work for the main stage.

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Behind the Scenes

Rhapsody: Music that Moves

With scores by composers from Gershwin to Tchaikovsky, Bellini to Debussy, find out how this music moves the stunning choreography of Rhapsody.

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Behind the Scenes

Meet the Female Trailblazers Who Shaped Boston Ballet

At Boston Ballet, we are proud to amplify female voices, both on stage and off. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting female trailblazers of the past and present who have made an impact on Boston Ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

Who was Leonid Yakobson?

Discover the courageous choreographer whose revolutionary works just barely survived Soviet-era censorship.

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Behind the Scenes

Human Geologies

“For many years I’ve been fascinated by this particular goddess,” the composer Esa-Pekka Salonen says of Nyx, the eponymous inspiration for his symphonic poem.

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Behind the Scenes

Esa-Pekka Salonen: Meet the Obsidian Tear Composer

Get to know world-renowned composer Esa-Pekka Salonen whose powerful compositions, Lachen verlernt and Nyx, inspired Wayne McGregor’s newest ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

Obsidian Tear Outfitted

Obsidian Tear is the first ballet to be styled instead of costumed—ever.

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Behind the Scenes

What to listen for: Obsidian Tear

Dive into the music that brings Obsidian Tear to life with guest conductor Daniel Stewart and find out what to listen for when the curtain rises on this musically-rich program.

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Behind the Scenes

Romeo & Juliet

“In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…A pair of star-cross'd lovers…”

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Behind the Scenes

Deconstructing the Costumes in Romeo & Juliet

The costumes for Romeo & Juliet are as timeless as the tale...

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Behind the Scenes

Five Ways John Cranko’s Legacy Lives On

This celebrated choreographer quickly made a name for himself and left a lasting impression on the dance world during his relatively short career.

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Behind the Scenes

The Sleeping Beauty

King Florestan and his Queen have invited all the Fairies to the christening of the infant Princess Aurora.

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Behind the Scenes

A Conversation on Chaconne

Stager Diana White and Principal Dancer Patrick Yocum share what it’s like to be part of the great legacy of dancing Balanchine’s Chaconne. 

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Behind the Scenes

La Sylphide

A romantic tale of unattainable love set in the Scottish Highlands.

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Behind the Scenes

Who is Bournonville

August Bournonville’s charming and distinctive style is on full display in La Sylphide, this spring at the Boston Opera House.

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Behind the Scenes

Sorella Englund: Defining Character

The former soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet and expert on Bournonville ballets now teaches others how to bring characters to life in La Sylphide

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Behind the Scenes

Inside Look: The Sleeping Beauty’s nymph costumes

Creating The Sleeping Beauty’s woodland nymph costumes

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Behind the Scenes

Dancer Insight: Improvisation in Artifact

What’s it like to improvise throughout an entire ballet with up to 25 dancers following your lead? Find out from Soloist Rachele Buriassi. 

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Behind the Scenes

Dancer Insight: Working with William Forsythe

We got the inside scoop from Company dancers Misa Kuranaga and Patrick Yocum on what it is like to work with the renowned choreographer William Forsythe.

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Behind the Scenes

Top Ten Reasons to Subscribe

Love ballet as much as we do? Save your seats for multiple performances at once when you subscribe to the 2021–2022 season. Here are ten reasons not to miss the new season that’s “bursting with positivity and openness” (Boston Globe).

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Behind the Scenes

ChoreograpHER at Boston Ballet School

We talked to Margaret Tracey, Director of Boston Ballet School, about the Choreographic Project.

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Behind the Scenes

Capturing the Essence of Ballet Students

Boston Ballet School is committed to inclusivity and promoting dance education for a wide range of students of all abilities.

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Behind the Scenes

Faculty Feature: Margaret Tracey

Get to know Margaret Tracey, Director of Boston Ballet School and former principal dancer with New York City Ballet.

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Behind the Scenes

The 1950s

As a young woman E. Virginia Williams faced limited opportunities in pursuing a dance career, she chose instead to focus on teaching and training dancers. 

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Behind the Scenes

The 1960s

The 1960's saw the birth of Boston's first professional ballet company.

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Behind the Scenes

The 1970s

Highlights of the 1970's included Margot Fonteyn, Natalia Makarova, touring with Rudolf Nureyev, a rock ballet, and The Sleeping Beauty.

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Behind the Scenes

The 1980s

Boston Ballet leapt onto the world stage in the 1980's with tours to across the globe, from China to London.

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Behind the Scenes

The 1990s

A historic Swan Lake, a new building, and the creation of the Citydance program were among the milestone moments of the 1990s.

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Behind the Scenes

The 2000s

Boston Ballet began the new millennium with new faces and even more new works. 

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Behind the Scenes

E. Virginia Williams: The Woman Who Started Boston Ballet

E. Virginia Williams founded Boston Ballet in 1963, making it the first professional ballet company in New England. Get to know the driven dreamer who started it all.

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Behind the Scenes

A Historic Debut in Paris

Boston Ballet received an overwhelming response from audiences and critics for their Paris debut in April 2019.

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Behind the Scenes

Bringing Ballet to Boston Calling

Boston Ballet dancer Sage Humphries shares her excitement about creating a new work for Boston Calling Music Festival.

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A Day in the Life: Corina Gill

Follow Second Soloist Corina Gill and see what it takes to train as a Boston Ballet dancer.

Paulo Arrais

Meet Principal Dancer Paulo Arrais
 

The 2017-2018 Season

A season of works by the world's most acclaimed choreographers past and present.  

On stage: Kylián/Wings of Wax

“...visually provocative and outright entertaining.”

On stage: Boston Ballet Presents Robbins/The Concert

Catch a glimpse of opening night 2017...

Children’s Program Experience

Hear from parents and students about their experience with our Children’s Program.

Onstage: Boston Ballet presents Parts In Suite

Watch the trailer for Parts In Suite. 

Onstage: Boston Ballet presents Cinderella

Watch the trailer for Cinderella. 

Onstage: Boston Ballet Presents Classic Balanchine

Watch the trailer for Classic Balanchine, featuring three highlights of George Balanchine’s storied and prolific career. 

Onstage: Boston Ballet Presents La Sylphide

Watch an exciting preview of Bournonville’s La Sylphide paired with highlights from his best-loved works. 

Onstage: Boston Ballet Presents Genius at Play

Watch the trailer for Genius at Play, celebrating 100 years of ballet and Broadway legend Jerome Robbins.

On stage: Full on Forsythe

Preview a daring and joyful program that fuses classic ballet and pop music, by the ever-inventive choreographer William Forsythe. 

Spotlight: Move Beyond the Ordinary

Discover the inspiration behind the 2019-2020 season.

Spotlight: Children at the ballet

A visit to the ballet opens up a world of imagination.