Dwight Rhoden’s Ave Maria is a poignant meditation on grace, loss, and transcendence. Set to Giulio Caccini’s timeless composition, the ballet channels the spiritual and emotional depth of the music through Rhoden’s signature contemporary vocabulary. Originally created for Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ave Maria showcases Rhoden’s gift for crafting movement that is both visceral and ethereal.

The choreography unfolds in waves of fluidity and tension, with dancers reaching skyward, folding inward, and moving through space as if propelled by unseen forces. The work’s central solo—often performed as a tribute or farewell—embodies a quiet strength and vulnerability, inviting audiences into a moment of reflection and reverence.

Rhoden’s use of light and shadow, stillness and motion, creates a visual landscape that mirrors the emotional contours of Caccini’s score. The ballet’s simplicity is its power: no elaborate sets or costumes distract from the raw humanity of the performance. Instead, the focus remains on the dancer’s body as a vessel of emotion and storytelling.

Ave Maria is more than a dance; it is a prayer in motion. It speaks to the universal longing for peace and connection, offering solace in times of sorrow and hope in moments of silence. In bringing this work to The Washington Ballet, Rhoden’s choreography resonates anew—an intimate offering of grace and gratitude.

Choreography
Dwight Rhoden

Staging
Desmond Richardson

Music
Ave Maria, Vyatcheslav Kagan-Paley

Costumes 
Dwight Rhoden

Lighting
Michael Korsch