Penny Saunders

A look inside the studio with dancer Itzkan Barbosa and choreographer Penny Saunders. 💫✨ Returning for her third creation with BalletX, Penny transforms Fall for our world premiere, “The Four Seasons Reimagined”. Featuring an electrifying new score by Dan Deacon, this new work invites audiences into a vivid celebration of nature, community, and movement. 🌎🌱 Experience it live June 4-5 @highmarkmann , all tickets just $25! Choreography: @pennyfix 🎶 @dandeacon 📅 June 4-5 📍 @highmarkmann 🎟️ #linkinbio #BalletX #BX20 #BXFest #TheFourSeasonsReimagined

What does it take to create a new ballet while navigating the realities of career and motherhood? On Inside the Ballet, DDP Founder Liza Yntema sits down with choreographer Penny Saunders to discuss Sherlock, a reimagining led by Irene Adler—the woman who outsmarts Sherlock Holmes. This episode pulls back the curtain on the artistic process and the structural support needed to make it possible. Ms.Saunders shares how she was able to create, travel, and sustain her work on her own terms. 🎧 A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of ballet.

In rehearsal with Nashville Ballet // Attitude Performances: May 1–3, 2026 Nashville Ballet presents Attitude, featuring Sherlock by Penny Saunders and the world premiere of Maria A. Konrad’s Lumina. Dance Data Project (DDP) President and Founder Liza Yntema will be conducting a Listening Tour revisit in conjunction with the premiere of this production. Stay tuned for more coverage from her upcoming visit. 📸 Sarah Hartsell Photography @srhartsellphoto

I never properly thanked my Diablo Ballet family for their time and efforts bringing this one act R&J to life. What a treat it was. Thank you Lauren for inviting me in and trusting me with this amazing story. Thank you Patricia Barker (and your sis) for your beautiful costumes!! Major Shout out to Cassie Barns and Michael Wells for getting me through all the nitty gritty!To the crew for all of their help and to my beautiful cast of collaborators for bringing so much delight to the work day after day. I can’t wait to revisit this one! It won’t let me tag you all—sorry!! Photos by: Tue Nan Ton @stillpro1 @diabloballet @dancemagazine @pointemagazineofficial @princessgraceus @kyla_marcus @natallenton @anvaribina @artsyphoenixbreese

Sur le Fil, a striking work by Penny Saunders, Resident Choreographer at Grand Rapids Ballet and a 2016 Princess Grace Choreographic Fellowship recipient, brings her evocative and cinematic style to the stage. Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:30pm Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 3pm NJPAC | 1 Center Street, Newark, N J 07102 For tickets, visit link in bio! #njballet

We’re concluding a fantastic week with Jason Hortin @jjhotpop , who has been working with us on a piece by one of our first guest choreographers of the season Penny Saunders. @pennyfix We are incredibly thankful to both of them for believing in Conflux, creating work for the company, and sharing their artistry with our dancers. This duet is going to be beautiful, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it in our upcoming performances on June 26th and 27th at Grace Street Theater. Mark your calendars—you won’t want to miss this! #rva #richmond #dance #confluxdancetheater

In this week’s episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Penny Saunders - an absolute force in the dance world and a choreographer every dancer dreams of working with. Key “Pointes” in this Episode: 🩰 Training at Harid Conservatory and how dance fostered independence at a young age. 🩰 Her transition into a professional career with her first job at American Repertory Ballet. 🩰 Navigating the transition from classical ballet to contemporary dance. 🩰 The story behind one of her favorite performance experiences and falling in love with her husband. 🩰 Taking the leap into choreography at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. 🩰 Overcoming imposter syndrome and growing into the identity of “choreographer”. 🩰 Balancing motherhood with a demanding dance career and why it matters for children to see their parents pursuing fulfilling work. Penny is a choreographic genius and yet so down-to-earth and just a true joy to know. Get ready for some major inspiration in this episode! 🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music 🎥: Choreographic reel courtesy of Penny Saunders featuring works from @seattle_dance_collective , @grandrapidsballet , @nzballet , @balletx , @pacificnorthwestballet , @whimwhimgram . . . #dancepodcast #balletpodcast #ballerinasofig #ballerinasofinstagram #aspiringballerina

Thank you Diablo Ballet for a wonderful week! R & J here we go! #princessgrace #diabloballet ballet#dancedataproject

The character Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, appeared in 56 of the author’s short stories and four of his novels. Since then, the British detective has inspired over hundreds of TV and film adaptations, at least five major radio shows, a play, and a musical. Now, Holmes is the subject of a new ballet, “Sherlock,” choreographed by Penny Saunders and co-produced by Ballet Idaho, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Nashville Ballet. Learn more at the link in our bio. 📸: Graham Gobeille in Penny Saunders’ “Sherlock.” Photos by @qwharton , courtesy Ballet Idaho. 📝: @lswarting #Sherlock #ballet #SherlockHolmes @nigellissimo @balletidaho @grapidsballet @nashvilleballet @pennyfix Descriptions: 1) A male dancer wearing a black scarf, plaid cap, and matching plaid trench coat lunges to the left while holding a magnifying glass in his right hand with his left arm extended behind him. 2) A male dancer smoking a pipe in a red trench coat and plaid cap, faces right with his right leg posed in turned-in passé with the foot tucked behind his left knee. 3) A side profile of a male dancer facing left shows him in mid-action with his bent left leg raised to hip level. Underneath his brown plaid cap and trench coat, he wears a black shirt, pants, and dress shoes.

Tech week! It’s all coming together. What an amazing team🥹✨