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Behind the Scenes

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• Performances
• Profiles
• Education
• The Nutcracker
• History
• Ballet Basics

• All Media
• Article
• Video
• Image Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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...

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. 

On stage: Boston Ballet presents Rhapsody

Watch the trailer for Rhapsody, a program bursting with rarely-seen works and poignant premieres.

On stage: Giselle

Watch the trailer for Giselle. 

On Stage: rEVOLUTION

Get an exciting, onstage look at rEVOLUTION, showcasing three works that transformed the world of ballet.

On Stage: Carmen

 This powerful program brings the heat with four distinct works.

Spotlight: Paulo Arrais' ELA, Rhapsody in Blue

Female power captured to magnificent effect.

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Initiative

Discover Boston Ballet's program dedicated to supporting and celebrating the voices of women artists.

Spotlight: Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella

Get a sparkling sneak peek at Cinderella, when a bit of fairy godmother magic changes everything...

Studio to stage: William Forsythe's Playlist (EP)

Follow Soloist Roddy Doble and Second Soloist Chyrstyn Fentroy as they take a playful pas de deux from studio to stage.

Spotlight: Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free

Get an exciting sneak peek at Fancy Free, and sail into the spirited tale of three young sailors on shore leave.

Spotlight: George Balanchine's Chaconne

Preview a pas de deux that floats on air...

Spotlight: August Bournonville’s La Sylphide

Get a sneak preview of La Sylphide—an enchanted tale of a mysterious sprite, her smitten suitor, and a vengeful sorceress.

Onstage: BB@home: ChoreograpHER

Watch the trailer from BB@home: ChoreorgapHER 2018, celebrating works of six female artists from within the Company.

On stage: Full on Forsythe at BB@home

Get an up close and personal look at the sold out BB@home preview of Full on Forsythe. 

Spotlight: Leonid Yakobson’s Rodin

Take a peek as Soloist Isaac Akiba and Artist Abigail Merlis bring to life an iconic sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.  

Dancer Insight: Kathleen Breen Combes on ELA, Rhapsody in Blue

Paulo Arrais’ poignant premiere is like nothing fellow Principal Dancer Kathleen Breen Combes has ever danced before. 

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Lia Cirio

Preview Sta(i)r(e)s, choreographed by Principal Dancer Lia Cirio as part of BB@home: ChoreograpHER.

Spotlight: 2018-2019 Season

Color your world with dance and discover the season’s vibrant lineup.

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Hannah Bettes

Preview In Search of Lost Time, a new work choreographed by Second Soloist Hannah Bettes as part of BB@home: ChoreograpHER.

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Jessica Burrows

Get a sneak peek at Variations, choreographed by Artist Jessica Burrows as part of BB@home: ChoreograpHER.

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Lauren Flower

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Artist Lauren Flower’s new work Momentous, choreographed as part of BB@home: ChoreograpHER.

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Sage Humphries

Artist and emerging choreographer Sage Humphries discusses her new work YOU, part of the BB@home: ChoreograpHER program.

Spotlight: ChoreograpHER Haley Schwan

Get a first look at Just, a new work choreographed by Artist Haley Schwan as part of the BB@home: ChoreograpHER program.

Dancer Insight: Paul Craig in Fancy Free

Discover why Principal Dancer Paul Craig finds Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free so much fun to dance.

Inside Look: Becoming Juliet

Discover what it’s like for Principal Dancer Seo Hye Han to dance one of ballet’s most coveted roles.

Onstage: Bournonville’s Flower Festival in Genzano

Preview a Bournonville ballet that blossoms on stage. 

Onstage: Jorma Elo's Bach Cello Suites

Watch as the dancers are transformed into instruments of movement.

In the studio: Forsythe's Playlist (EP)

Get an exclusive sneak peek at Forsythe’s first world premiere created on an American company in over 25 years. 

Inside Look: Vestris with Stager Joan Boada

Few dancers have been up to the challenge of Leonid Yakobson’s Vestris since he created it for the legendary Baryshnikov, until now....

Dancer Insight: Viktorina Kapitonova on Giselle

Discover what it's like to dance the title role of this iconic ballet.

In the studio: Jiří Kylián's Bella Figura

Go behind the scenes of a work that's sensual yet sensitive, vulnerable and poetic. 

Studio to stage: The Fairy "Spring" in Cinderella

Principal Dancer Ji Young Chae performs a sparkling, high-spirited sequence. See her transformation from studio to stage.

Tatiana's letter

Boston Ballet Principal Dancers Petra Conti and Eris Nezha bring Tatiana's letter from Puskin's Onegin to life.

BB@home: Focus on Forsythe

See the creative process of choreographer William Forsythe

Alexander Ekman’s Cacti

Witty, clever, and full of surprises…

Inside Look: The Characters of The Concert

Meet a cast of quirky concert goers…

Inside Look: Mischa Santora on George Balanchine's Agon

Hear from Boston Ballet's music director on the correlation between music and movement in this daring piece. 

Dancer Insight: Abigail Merlis on Swan Lake

Go behind the scenes with the corps de ballet and be inspired by their strength and solidarity.

Dancer Insight: Mallory Mehaffey on Balanchine's Serenade

Get an inside look at George Balanchine's Serenade​

Spotlight: The Swans' Entrance

Get swept away by the mist-laden magic of Swan Lake, and watch as the corps de ballet make their unforgettable Act IV entrance.

Dancer Insight: Patrick Yocum on Artifact Suite

Get a dancer’s perspective on the exhilarating pas de deux in William Forsythe's Artifact Suite. 

In the Studio: Robbins/The Concert

Rehearsals are underway for the 2016-2017 season finale…

Artifact 2017: Where did Part III come from?

Forsythe spoke to the audience in a post-show talk and explained the meaning of Part III. 

Spotlight: Helen Pickett's Petal

Get a first look at Helen Pickett's sensual and stunning choreography.

Dancer Insight: Lily Price on Giselle

The corps de ballet drives the action in this romantic masterpiece.

Spotlight: George Balanchine's Coppélia

When a toymaker’s oh-so-lifelike invention catches the eye of a town bumpkin, the stage is set for plenty of laughs.

Dancer Insight: Pas de Quatre

It’s all about the teamwork in Yakobson’s iconic ballet.

Inside Look: The Art of Gesture

A closer look at how our dancers speak without saying anything at all.

Inside Look: Interpreting the movement in La Sylphide

Discover the meaning behind the movement in La Sylphide as Principal Dancers Misa Kuranaga and Junxiong Zhao demonstrate pantomime.

Dancer Insight: Kathleen Breen Combes on Fancy Free

Step back in time to NYC in the 1940s, and experience Robbins’ Fancy Free from Principal Dancer Kathleen Breen Combes’ perspective.

Inside Look: Leonid Yakobson's Pas de Quatre

Yakobson biographer Janice Ross illuminates the history of the delicate and beautiful Pas de Quatre.

From the Wings: Romeo & Juliet

Get a dancer’s perspective of Romeo & Juliet.

In the studio | Men of Playlist (EP)

Catch a glimpse of the men's section in William Forsythe's Playlist (EP), the choreographer's first world premiere created on an American company in over 25 years.

Spotlight: rEVOLUTION

Explore works by three choreographers who revolutionized ballet.

Spotlight: Dr. Coppélius’ Workshop

Dr. Coppélius has built hundreds of whimsical inventions, but his latest masterpiece will take everyone by surprise...

Inside Look: Cinderella's Stepsisters

Two stepsisters mean a double dose of laughter in this beloved fairy tale.

Dancer Insight: Lia Cirio on Jorma Elo's Carmen

Get a behind the scenes look as Principal Dancer Lia Cirio rehearses Jorma Elo’s reimagined Carmen. 

Spotlight: How to Swan Arms

Follow these steps to perfect your swan arms, then share your new moves with your balletomane friends.

Dancer Insight: Patrick Yocum on Giselle

With his fate in the hands of the Wilis, is true love enough to save Albrecht?

Artifact 2017: Why are they arguing about sticks?

Forsythe answers the question of why the Woman in Historical Dress argues with Man with Megaphone. 

In the studio: Kylián/Wings of Wax

Rehearsals are underway for Kylián/Wings of Wax…

On stage: Jorma Elo’s Bach Cello Suites

“…worth a second and third look.” –Jeffrey Gantz, The Boston Globe

Dancer Insight: Mallory Mehaffey on Serenade

Go behind the scenes of George Balanchine's most seminal and celebrated work. 

Justin Peck’s In Creases

A work that “immediately seize(s) attention.” (The New York Times)

In the studio: Rehearsal of Donizetti Variations

A charming classic from Mr. B

Spotlight: William Forsythe's Artifact

It's finally here…

Dancer Insight: Paulina Waski on Giselle

She’s regal, courageous, and merciless. Get to know the queen of the Wilis.

In the studio: Playlist (EP) Pas de Deux

Check out rehearsal for a flirtatious pas de deux from William Forsythe's Playlist (EP). 

Spotlight: Sneak Peek of Coppélia

Boy meets girl. It's a tale as old as time. But what happens when things aren't quite as they appear? 

Spotlight: Sneak Peek of Cinderella

When Cinderella is excluded from the Royal Ball and all hope seems lost, wi