As The Washington Ballet celebrates its 50th Anniversary, Blue Until June stands as a hallmark work reflecting the company’s enduring mission: championing bold contemporary choreography and fostering creative collaboration right here in Washington, DC. Originally choreographed on The Washington Ballet company in 2000, Trey McIntyre turned to the legendary, soul-strewn recordings of Etta James to anchor the movement. Rather than treating the music as background accompaniment, McIntyre used the emotional gravity and historical weight of the blues to build the psychological landscape of the ballet.

The living history of this piece continues on stage today, staged for this anniversary run by Erin Mahoney-Du, a former company dancer and an original cast member from the 2000 world premiere. Her firsthand artistic lineage bridges the company’s past and present, offering audiences a direct connection to a landmark work rooted in The Washington Ballet's legacy of bringing visionary contemporary artists to our local stage.

Blue Until June does not follow a linear narrative story; instead, it unfolds as a series of intimate, emotionally charged vignettes exploring the universal themes of love, longing, heartbreak, and resilience. The ballet opens with a striking visual metaphor—a statuesque figure wrapped in fabric—setting an atmospheric, evocative tone for the human drama that follows.

The movement vocabulary mirrors the shifting, raw textures of Etta James’s voice. It moves fluidly between high-octane, swift athletic partnering and moments of quiet, devastating vulnerability. The ensemble shifts seamlessly from explosive group dynamics to raw, exposed solo and duet moments, capturing the desperation, comfort, and enduring hope found within the blues.