Ballet22 Breaks Down Barriers, Aug 27

 Ballet22, a groundbreaking dance company presenting works that break gender normative traditions in the classical repertoire, presents The Best of Ballet 22 atCenter Stage Theater in Santa Barbara.

 With a clear mission to create equal representation in the professional ballet field for men, mxn, transgender, and non-binary artists to perform professionally and “en pointe,” evening will recreate classical ballet repertoire works like Le Corsaire, Giselle, and Carmen in the historically accurate choreography to showcase the masterful technique of the artists while challenging heteronormative roles and costuming. Empowering both LGBTQ+ artists and audiences to feel seen and represented, the evening celebrates strength, vulnerability, and authenticity with both classical and contemporary works that deconstruct tradition and redefine what it is to be a ballet dancer en pointe through a new and progressive lens.

The program will also include the joyous and celebratory Juntos by Joshua Stayton, a technical and poignant solo, I Will Follow You Too, by Jehbreal Jackson, and a reprise of Heartbeats. A powerful example of versatility, moving seamlessly between the classical and contemporary vocabulary, the program serves as a wonderful introduction to the power, magic, and meaning of ballet for a new generation.