Black Voices of Dance

Boulder Ballet Presents Black Voices of Dance, an evening of dance highlighting the nation’s most vibrant Black voices in the field. Three world premieres celebrate the work of today’s prestigious Black choreographers: Gregory Dawson, Sidra Bell, and Amy Hall Garner in an evening of original works sure to transcend. Boulder Ballet is proud to present a program that features all African American choreographers during Black History month. We are honored that their works will offer a different perspective on dance and represent a new focus for our company. As part of our mission, the company strives to offer unique perspectives in dance and bring diversity to our performances and community. Expect an evening with three strong choreographic styles. The works will be unique contemporary and/or neo-classical, and will show impressive technique and full-body movements.

About the choreographers:

Sidra Bell is founder of Sidra Bell Dance New York and a choreographer and educator who is currently a Master Lecturer at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, an Adjunct Professor at LINES Ballet/Dominican University and an Adjunct Professor at Ball State University in Indiana. Sidra is also the first Black female choreographer commissioned to create work on New York City Ballet where she choreographed two works for film and the Lincoln Center stage (Fall Fashion Gala 2021 and Innovators & Icons Program). Her debut with the Boulder Ballet will feature a new work that she will be creating in our own studios at the Dairy Arts Center.

Gregory Dawson founded dawsondancesf in 2007 as an outlet for his choreographic vision. With movement that is raw and deliberate, Gregory uses the classical vernacular to push choreographic boundaries in unpredictable ways. A high level of classical training is required from our dancers to perform this world premiere for our company. His piece, Getting To Something Real, is based on a poem by James Baldwin and will be an edgy performance.

Amy Hall Garner, whose work is praised internationally and who has created commissioned works with Ailey II and American Ballet Theater, worked with the Boulder Ballet last year in 2021 and will be revitalizing her piece Come To Light for our Black Voices of Dance program. Her neo-classical work is light, exciting and features clean lines and a pure presentation of movement.

In partnership with Boulder County Arts Alliance