Saint Louis Ballet has announced the first two productions for its 2020-2021 season, with details of subsequent ballets to be announced soon. Under the direction of former New York City Ballet principal dancer Gen Horiuchi, the company will offer two new productions that audience members can access virtually.

“After months of separation, our dancers – including three talented new ones – will reunite and begin training, creating and preparing to perform,” Horiuchi said. “We are one of the very few organizations in the region that has retained all administrative and artistic personnel.  We are touched by the generosity and interest of this community to keep Saint Louis Ballet moving forward.”  

The 2020-2021 season will open with This Is Who We Are, a fully produced and an intimate production that will be streamed beginning October 24. Audience members will see the ballets “up close” –performed in the Saint Louis Ballet studios, with narration and behind-the-scene “extras” from dancers and artistic staff.  Horiuchi has created works, all set to the piano music of J.S. Bach, for solo or small groups in the interest of safety.  

The holiday Nutcracker tradition will live on with four special performances that capture the best of years past and the talents of the current ballet company.  Nutcracker Extravaganza will incorporate favorite Nutcracker scenes from former productions interspersed with new Nutcracker performances on the Touhill stage.  
The production will include “behind the scenes” extras as well.  

Audience members can order holiday treats delivered from Butler’s Pantry and participate in an online auction and holiday boutique. Details of those activities will be available at www.stlouisballet.org by 
November 1.

Tickets to This Is Who We Are and Nutcracker Extravaganza are complimentary, but required in order to receive access. They will be made available beginning September 15 at www.stlouisballet.org. 

On the horizon in 2021 are ballets by renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, Peter Martins, and Justin Peck—the Tony Award-winning dancer and choreographer who is choreographing the new West Side Story film alongside Steven Spielberg. Saint Louis Ballet will consider the safety of its dancers and audience members before announcing the format and details of those events.