City Ballet of Boston & Tony Williams Dance Center Present “Ballet Banquet”

 City Ballet of Boston (CBB) under the artistic direction of Tony Williams, presents Ballet Banquet, an unforgettable celebration of dance, including stage premieres by choreographers Gianni Di Marco and Morgan Brown Sanborn. With dancers from City Ballet of Boston and youth dancers from the Tony Williams Dance Center, these performances feature six distinct contemporary works at the historic Strand Theatre in Dorchester, April 26-28.

The performances open with “Ben’s Trumpet,” a vibrant jazz-ballet piece based on the children’s story book, “Ben’s Trumpet,” by Caldecott Honor Award-winning author and illustrator Rachel Isadora. Tony Williams and Rachel Isadora first met while they were both company members at the Boston Ballet, and have continued collaborating since, most notably on the setting of “Ben’s Trumpet.” The piece first premiered in 2009 at the Wheelock Family Theatre with sets by Charles Baldwin, who is re-designing his original sets with fabrication by Wooden Kiwi for this 2024 production, and costumes by Dustin Rennells.

“Sleeping Beauty: The Awakening,” is an abridged version of the classic ballet choreographed by Gianni Di Marco, followed by “Baba Ghanoush,” choreographed by Tony Williams. Following are two stage premieres, “The Gathering,” choreographed by Gianni Di Marco, and “Tableau,” a three-movement work choreographed by CBB company member Morgan Brown Sanborn. The program will also include “Slanting Sun,” choreographed by Marcus Schulkind.

Alongside the CBB company dancers and youth dancers, guest artists for Ballet Banquet include ChrissyAnn Carpenter, continuing CBB’s partnership with Brooklyn Ballet; Joe Gonzalez, Complexions Contemporary Ballet company member; and Haissan Booth, South Carolina Ballet company member.

Tony Williams, Artistic Director, says, “Ballet Banquet is more than just a performance; it’s a celebration of the transformative power of dance. We aim to connect with our audiences on a profound level, inviting them to experience the emotion, beauty, and athleticism of ballet through a diverse repertoire that challenges and delights.”

City Ballet of Boston (CBB) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides quality dance training to a diverse urban community allowing it to run an elite professional company. The core philosophy of a rigorous dance curriculum is that quality dance builds physical and mental discipline and is also an excellent means of cultural education.

CBB has in place a rich training program to deliver a quality dance education, focused primarily on ballet, in a comprehensively supportive environment. The training provided goes beyond dance, and students will receive support and guidance to develop better connections with each other and their communities.

The company’s scholarship training program, Boston City Youth Ballet, offers two levels for young dancers. The introductory Relevé level (ages 8-11) is perfect for beginning students who are eager to learn. For more advanced dancers ages 12-20, the Développé and Allongé levels focus on both technique and performing artistry. The program, now in its fifth year, is funded in part by the Carl & Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation.

The performances of Ballet Banquet at the Strand Theatre (543 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125), take place on Friday, April 26 at 7pm; Saturday, April 27 at 3pm; and Sunday, April 28 at 3pm. Tickets start at $20 and are available at cityballetofboston.org. 

City Ballet Boston Belonging, Photo credit CBB