It is with great pride that I welcome you to Alabama Ballet's 2026–2027 season as we celebrate 45 years of dance, artistry, and community. This anniversary season reflects who we are: rooted in tradition, inspired by innovation, and committed to sharing stories that bring us together.
Our first mainstage production is American Portraits, part of America's 250th anniversary. This program explores resilience, faith, and hope through works including George Balanchine's Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux, my own To Heal and Dispersal, along with other works. At its heart, this program honors our shared history and the sense of hope and togetherness that art can create.
At the BJCC, we return to a beloved tradition with George Balanchine's The Nutcracker®, a joyful holiday classic that continues to bring families together year after year.
Our repertory program, Unbound, showcases the range of today's ballet with works including Paul Vasterling's Seasons, For Pixie by internationally celebrated choreographer Dani Rowe, and the 60th anniversary of George Balanchine's Rubies.
We also return to our At Home Series with At Home: New Voices featuring original works by Alabama Ballet company dancers, celebrating the artists shaping our future.
The season concludes with Swan Lake, commemorating the 150th anniversary of its premiere. My staging, after Petipa and Ivanov, honors this iconic masterpiece while offering a deeply emotional interpretation of its timeless story.
For 45 years, Alabama Ballet has brought artists and audiences together to share beauty and meaning. I invite you to join us for this landmark season as we honor our past and continue building our future, together.
With gratitude,
Christopher Stuart, Artistic Director
Artistic Director | Christopher Stuart
Executive Director | Jenny Mann
Choreography | George Balanchine & Christopher Stuart
Rehearsal Director | Jon Upleger
Production Manager | David Page
Company & Production Stage Manager | Joelle Tucker
Costume Director | Wendy Gamble
Technical Stage Manager | Liam McElroy
"Stars and Stripes" Pas De Deux
For all its exuberant patriotic touches, Stars and Stripes contains as much pure dancing as many full-length classical ballets. The work is divided into five “campaigns,” each of which uses different themes from John Philip Sousa’s marches. When asked why he chose to choreograph a ballet to Sousa, Balanchine replied, “Because I like his music.” Stars and Stripes has been performed for many memorable occasions, including Nelson Rockefeller’s inauguration as governor of New York, tributes for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and the opening ceremonies for the New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater) at Lincoln Center. The ballet is dedicated to the memory of Fiorello H. LaGuardia, mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1945 and founder of the City Center of Music and Drama.
Choreography by | George Balanchine, ©The George Balanchine Trust
Music by | John Philip Sousa, orchestrated by Hershy Kay
Costume Design | Karinska
"To Heal"
To Heal was created through a collaboration I had with the Fisk Jubilee Singers and is inspired by the power of their music and the profound history behind their voices.
Rooted in the traditions of the spirituals they carry, the ballet explores the human capacity to endure, to remember, and ultimately, to heal. Through movement, music, and the connection between past and present.
Choreography by | Christopher Stuart
Music by | the Fisk Jubilee Singers
Costumes by | Billy Ditty
Lighting by | David Page
"New Beginnings"
With New Beginnings, I wanted to create a ballet danced only by women on pointe, one that puts the strength, precision, and artistry of these dancers front and center. Pointe work asks so much of a dancer, and these women make it look effortless while bringing something personal to every step. This piece celebrates them: their individuality, their unity as an ensemble, and the new energy they bring to the stage.
Choreography by | Christopher Stuart
Music by | Alex Baranowski
Costumes by | Wendy Gamble & Christopher Stuart
Lighting by | David Page
"Reveille"
A reveille is the call that wakes the ranks and gathers everyone in. This ballet is about everything on the other side of that call: a goodbye with no date attached to the hello, the distance that follows, and the people who keep waiting through it. Through dance, Reveille moves from the anticipation of departure to the weight of separation and the memories that keep us close. It is an ode to the men and women of our armed services, and to the families, partners, and friends who share in that sacrifice. Because even when we are separated by distance, duty, or time, some embraces never end.
Choreography by | Christopher Stuart
Music by | Johannes Brahms
Costumes by | Wendy Gamble & Christopher Stuart
Lighting by | David Page
"Dispersal"
Like dandelion seeds carried by the wind, a group of people are continually brought together and scattered apart, discovering that connection, adaptation, and resilience allow them to survive and take root wherever life carries them.
Choreography by | Christopher Stuart
Music by | Cristina Spinei
Lighting by | David Page
PERFORMANCE SPONSORS:
The Alabama Dance Council is proud to provide the professional sprung floor used for this performance as part of our commitment to supporting professional dance in Alabama. The floor is available for rental by dance and performing arts organizations. For more information, visit alabamadancecouncil.org.
Jenny Mann
Executive Director
Dr. Jenny Mann, Executive Director, joined the Alabama Ballet in November of 2024. Before joining AB, she served as President and Executive Director of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Executive Director of Tuscaloosa Symphony, and enjoyed a 15-year career with The University of Alabama as Associate Professor of Bassoon, Chamber Music, and Arts Administration. A passionate educator and administrator, Jenny has over 30 years of experience in teaching and developing education/outreach programs. She specializes in fundraising, organizational capacity building, and collaborative engagement. In addition to her career in leadership, Jenny also published the text, "Teaching Woodwinds: Bassoon" with Mountain Peak Music and three recordings with the renowned Cavell Trio. Jenny holds a BMA from Baylor with a PK-12 Teaching Certification, MM and DMA degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.
Chloe Bowen
PR & Marketing Manager
Michele Swader
Office Manager
Margaret Wendorf
Finance Manager
Natalie Hunt
Director of Operations, Alabama Ballet School
Isabella Cowles, ARAD RTS
Director of Curriculum, Alabama Ballet School
Madison Johnson
Boutique Coordinator
Ruby Moore
After-Hours School Administrator
