Boston Ballet presents BB@home: ChoreograpHER, a program dedicated to emerging female choreographers from Boston Ballet Company dancers featuring six original works by Principal Dancer Lia Cirio, Second Soloist Hannah Bettes, and Artists Jessica Burrows, Lauren Flower, Sage Humphries, and Haley Schwan.
Through BB@home: ChoreograpHER, Boston Ballet is proud to establish a platform to support the creative development of its Company dancers while amplifying the voices and visions of female artmakers.
“Given the reality that the majority of produced choreographers have been male, I am excited this BB@home program encourages our talented female dancers who have an interest in choreography by giving them a platform to gain experience as choreographers,” said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen.
Celebrated visual artist Shantell Martin will emcee the program and moderate a conversation with Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, the choreographers, and the audience.
From early beginnings with live performance drawing in the mega clubs of Tokyo, Martin made her way to New York, where she pushed the limits of her trademark continuous line.
Her drawings have transformed everything from walls, found objects, and sneakers. In 2015, she became an artist-in-residence at the MIT Media Lab. Martin will create an original work of art as part of the performances.
Principal Dancer Lia Cirio makes her choreographic debut with Sta(i)r(e)s. Set to music by Carolina Chocolate Drops and Agnes Obel, it explores how the ups and downs of experience influence one’s life.
As the associate artistic director of Cirio Collective, a collective created by Cirio and her brother Jeffrey to explore and develop new choreography, she is no stranger to the complexities of bringing new works to audiences.
Second Soloist Hannah Bettes’ In Search of Lost Time, with music by Sigur Rós, is one woman’s reflection on past and current relationships and how the accumulation of those memories has ultimately changed the way in which she views herself. This performance marks her choreographic debut.
Artist Jessica Burrows’ Variations celebrates individuality with an inspiring soundtrack by Antonio Vivaldi. Burrows first stepped into the role of choreographer with Hong Kong Ballet, where she participated in the company’s annual choreographic workshop. She brings her choreographic expertise to Boston Ballet for the first time with Variations.
Artist Lauren Flower’s Momentous, set to music by Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet and Andrew Bird, chronicles the momentous occasions in one’s life. The abstract piece is Flower’s third original composition and first time setting a work on Boston Ballet.
Artist Sage Humphries’ YOU explores the human condition, the universal struggle of purpose, and one’s relationship to God. The piece is Humphries’ first major choreographic venture and will feature original music composed and played live by her brother Michael Humphries.
Artist Haley Schwan’s Just, with music by Nico Muhly, asks the question: In the end, will our vulnerabilities bring us together or tear us apart? Though Schwan has choreographed commissioned works before—in 2015, she choreographed Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora’s performance of “Black Widow” for the MTV VMAs—Just will be her first time setting a work on Boston Ballet.
BB@home is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes with no intermission. Both performances are sold out.
All BB@home performances take place at 19 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116: