HTP Mainstage

BalletX

Performances

Nov 21

Performance Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes including 2 intermissions.

Recognized internationally as a home for creation, innovation, and inclusion, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, BalletX, inspires human connection through extraordinary dance experiences. Hailed as an “epicenter of creation” by Dance Magazine and a “place of choreographic innovation” by The New Yorker, the trailblazing company makes its Harris Theater debut with a groundbreaking program that expands the vocabulary of ballet.

This mixed repertory program features the Chicago premiere of Jennifer Archibald’s Exalt, a dynamic fusion of traditional ballet and pulsating house music. Described as “sleek, lovely, [and] highly athletic” by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Archibald’s choreography defies convention, infusing the grace of ballet with the energy of the club scene. Exalt embodies a vibrant synergy that captivates audiences with its daring exploration of movement and rhythm, standing as a testament to BalletX’s commitment to innovation and artistic excellence and inviting viewers to experience ballet in a thrilling new light.

“This Philadelphia company … has vividly appealing, highly individual dancers. It’s easy to miss how meticulous they are in style — but impossible not to recognize their richness and immediacy.” — The New York Times

A group of ballerinas sit on the ground on top of a sheet forming a circle.

BalletX
BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet whose dancers were named “among America’s best” by The New York Times, commissions choreographers from around the world to create dance that is “fresh, inclusive, and connects to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen).

Founded in 2005 by Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan, BalletX is led by Cox, whose tenure as Artistic and Executive Director has produced nearly 130 world premiere ballets by over 75 choreographers, a record “few companies can match,” according to The New York Times. Under Cox’s leadership, BalletX has been hailed as an “epicenter of creation” (Dance Magazine) and a “place of choreographic innovation” (The New Yorker), putting Philadelphia on the map as an international destination for contemporary ballet. The company creates extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection, with a deep commitment to community programming.

BalletX's influence extends far beyond Philadelphia's city limits, captivating over 250,000 audiences nationwide through performance seasons at the Wilma Theater, free pop-up events across Philadelphia, and extensive touring to renowned venues including the Vail Dance Festival, The Joyce Theater, and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. With each performance, BalletX reaffirms Philadelphia's status as a global destination for contemporary ballet.

BalletX's impact transcends the stage. Through initiatives like Dance eXchange, the company has touched the lives of over 2,000 Philadelphia public school students, providing them with access to transformative dance education. The X-Process, another groundbreaking program, facilitates connections between audiences and artists, offering insights into the creative process and fostering a deeper appreciation for the art form.

BalletX’s distinctive contribution to the American dance community has been recognized and supported in recent years by generous grants from the William Penn Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, Shubert Foundation, the Jerome Robbins New Essential Works (NEW) Program, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, Pennsylvania Council On the Arts, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, and PECO, among many others.