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.

This month, we celebrate Principal Dancer Lia Cirio, who has been with the company for 21 years. Her world premiere in Boston Ballet’s FALL EXPERIENCE marked her second choreographic work for the Boston Ballet main stage. Cirio’s ballets showcase a brilliant pairing of her own personal style and technique with her ability to highlight the unique talent of her fellow dancers.

“‘I hope that I can be that someone for that dreaming young ballerina, that might see me and think, ‘That’s me. I can do that too,’” she said. “Every time I go out there, I think of that and hope I inspire someone.’”
—Lia Cirio, WBUR

Nanine Linning stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation in the world of dance, making her an emblematic figure for Women’s History Month. As a female choreographer, Linning has fearlessly broken through barriers, challenging conventions and redefining the boundaries of contemporary dance. Explore the behind-the-scenes look at her most recent world premiere with Boston Ballet, La Mer, that shed light on the importance of ocean preservation.

In honor of Women’s History Month, it’s “lights up” on the talented women who work backstage on Boston Ballet’s productions. Meet three women who are calling the shots.

Black History Month is a time to reflect on and celebrate the impact that Black Americans have had in our country. In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting dance moments by black dancers and leaders for their contributions to American dance and ballet history.

Hear from Soloist Daniel Durrett on what it means to him to have a new Nutcracker Prince head created to look like him.

“To have a head that looks like me, I’m hoping that inspires other children that look like me, so they can know that they can do it. The first show that I did, I was just, like, very, very emotional, because I just, like, never saw a head that color. It felt perfect, it felt right, and it felt more, I think, believable for the story as well.”

Take an inside look at sewing and pancaking pointe shoes with Artist Sydney Williams. Pancaking is a process that involves using dye or make up to paint pointe shoes to match skin tone.

“To have the option to wear tights and shoes that match my skin tone is amazing. It allows me to feel less “different” because it makes me feel like my whole identity is accepted and welcomed in ballet. When I started in the graduate program at Boston Ballet, I was hesitant to ask if I could wear brown tights; I felt like it wasn’t my place. But now I not only feel more comfortable making those decisions for myself, but can also see that this decision has been welcomed by the company.” -Artist, Sydney Williams

Principal Dancer Chyrstyn Fentroy opens up about her performing with her natural hair in George Balanchine’s Chaconne.

“As a corps de ballet member I performed in the opening scene where the women are meant to be in their most beautiful natural state possible, but I had only seen images of women with flowing hair that fell down by their shoulders and my natural hair is a short afro. Because of this, I didn’t feel like I fit the description of beautiful. One day, I finally got the courage to have the conversation about my natural hair and eventually I went on stage this way, and that performance felt amazing because I felt that my natural me was also beautiful.” -Principal Dancer Chyrstyn Fentroy

Boston Ballet is one of the most diverse in the country, featuring dancers from all around the world, of just about every color. Listen to Artist Sydney Williams and Second Soloist Daniel Durrett discuss their hopes to inspire the future generation in an interview with CBS News.

Choreographed by Company dancer My’Kal Stromile, Form and Gesture (World Premiere) celebrates the beauty, expressiveness, and transformative power of movement while bridging the gap between classical ballet tradition and contemporary innovation. Watch his choreographic journey from the studio, to the costume shop, through the musical development process and Form and Gesture‘s unveiling on the Citizens Opera House stage.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the achievements of Hispanic American and Latino American champions who have paved the way for future generations. In honor of HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2024, we’re highlighting a few of the many contributions our vibrant community and artists have made and continue to make on the legacy of Boston Ballet and American dance.

Meet Artist Daniela Fabelo! She joined the Company in 2022 and previously danced at Cuban National Ballet and Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico. Last season, she dazzled audiences with her strength and grace in roles such as Amour in Don Quixote, Enchanted Garden Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and Calliope in Apollo. Get to know more about her in this spotlight, then catch her on stage this season to see what roles she brings to life next!

Join us in celebrating Pride at Boston Ballet, a time dedicated to promoting self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ+) community. Six members of the Boston Ballet family share their stories as LGBTQ+ artists and business leaders, the ways they celebrate Pride throughout the year, and the importance of embracing and amplifying diverse voices in the arts and beyond.

Learn about Boston Ballet’s partnership with MASSACHUSETTS TRANSGENDER POLITICAL COALITION (MTPC) and how the role of the Stepsisters in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella fits into an important conversation about gender representation in ballet.

Join us in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time dedicated to honoring members of the AAPI community and their countless contributions to the ballet world and beyond. Four members of the Boston Ballet family share their experiences as AAPI artists and business leaders, celebrate their heritages, and explain why diverse representation matters in the arts.

Hear from Principal Dancer Chisako Oga on performing the role of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, and its’ symbolic representation of her journey to becoming a principal dancer.

Boston Ballet Principal Dancer John Lam, was recently featured on Boston25 News to spread his message that the arts are for everyone. Watch the video to hear about his 20th anniversary as a professional dancer, his Vietnamese American upbringing, and what’s next for him.

Hear from Boston Ballet Soloist Lawrence Rines Munro and Second Soloists Daniel Durrett and Tyson Ali Clark on what it means to them to perform the role of Snow King in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker.