POLYPHONIA // During our new feature, Christopher Wheeldon and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan dive in to the origin story of Polyphonia, a ballet that remains on the cutting edge over 20 years later and is widely considered Wheeldon’s breakout work.
Watch the full film on our YouTube channel at the #linkinbio to hear from more original cast members, and experience Polyphonia’s return to our stage this winter on the Wheeldon + Martins + Peck program, opening January 25.
Director @ohnosaracrow
DP @sammotamedi
Steadicam @merakifilmnyc
Editor @mengfanwu
Color @samuelgursky
#nycb75th @wheeldony #christopherwheeldon @wendyw #wendywhelan @jocksoto #jocksoto #polyphonia #ligeti #dance #ballet #pointeshoes #nycb #nycballet #newyorkcityballet
FLASH FOOTAGE // Principal Dancer Emma Von Enck breezes through this moment from Christopher Wheeldon’s Continuum with style and effervescence.
Continuum made its NYCB premiere last week—catch it on the Contemporary Choreography III program through May 20. Tap the #linkinbio to secure your seats.
Principal Piano: Stephen Gosling
Accompanying Pianist: Alan Moverman
@emmavonenck@wheeldony #christopherwheeldon #newyorkcityballet #nycballet #ballet
A moment from “Us” by Christopher Wheeldon.
Still Pointless goes on tour in under two weeks, premiering at Sadler’s Wells 12-16 May. See you there 🎟️
📸: @alexstoreyphotography
Featured dancers: @yyannmusicdance@joshattwood_
NEW COMBINATIONS // This week, New Combinations Host and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan is joined by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, whose ballet Continuum will have its NYCB premiere on May 1. It’s part of a trilogy of leotard ballets, including Polyphonia and Morphoses, set to a score by György Ligeti—a composer whose music Wheeldon was “really intrigued by,” but also “terrified” by. Wheeldon and Whelan discuss unlocking and understanding the mysteries of Ligeti’s works, setting this piece on the company, and the positive impact fear can have on one’s creative process.
Stream the episode at podcast.nycballet.com or on your preferred streaming platform.
@wheeldony@wendyw #christopherwheeldon #wendywhelan #györgyligeti #newyorkcityballet #ballet
Is it getting hot in here, or is it just this pas de deux?🔥
In “Like Water for Chocolate”, @wheeldony brings @chocolate.esquivel ’s tale of forbidden love to life with The Royal Ballet. @francescahayward and @marcisambe embody Tita and Pedro in a story where longing simmers beneath every glance and touch.
Set to Joby Talbot’s sweeping original score and conducted by Alondra de la Parra, this contemporary classic blends dramatic intensity with magical storytelling. In moments like this, the choreography says everything words cannot.
Watch “Like Water for Chocolate” now on Marquee TV.
#LikeWaterForChocolate #TheRoyalBallet #PasDeDeux #ChristopherWheeldon #MarqueeTV
I’ve always admired actors who dedicate themselves completely to their craft.
Which is why I was surprised to hear recently from an Oscar-nominated actor the phrase: “Who cares about ballet and opera?”
Many people care.
Dance is universal. When the human body can convey a thousand words and a thousand emotions through movement and gesture, something profound happens between performer and audience.
Ballet and opera are not relics of the past. They are living, evolving art forms sustained by artists who devote their lives to mastering them.
As artists, we have a responsibility to respect other art forms — even those we may not personally admire.
They all matter.
Dear Hans, you were and will forever be an inspiration to so many. I’ll cherish the night you had us over for dinner and you taught me how to bow. To open my arms and accept the love from the audience. Your memory will live forever in your genius art. Thank you, and now rest.
