BPIA Night at the Ballet & Champagne Reception: Recognizing Black Contributions to Classical Ballet

IMPORTANT NOTE - *GUESTS MUST PURCHASE TICKET THROUGH THE BPIA WEBSITE REGISTRATION LINK TO SIT IN BPIA SEATING & ATTEND THE RECEPTION.  Guests can purchase individual tickets directly through the Kennedy Center website, however they will not be seated in the "BPIA" section and will not granted a ticket for the reception. 

BPIA Presents...

BPIA Night at the Ballet & Champagne Reception: Recognizing Black Contributions to Classical Ballet

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 

6:00pm ET - Private Rooftop Champagne Reception 

8:00pm ET - Show Begins 

Location: The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts - 2700 F St NW, Washington DC

Attire: Cocktail Attire 

Spots are limited • Tickets are $75.00/person • Open to Current and Prospective Members 

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"Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative"

"Our 2022 Reframing the Narrative celebration took time to recognize the artistry, leadership, and impact of Black ballet dancers—and now we look towards the future!

In continuation of our commitment to acknowledging the vast spectrum of contributors to the field of ballet, we welcome a special two-performance engagement and the return of guest curator Theresa Ruth Howard, founder of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBBallet) and its Pathways to Performance Choreographic Program. This initiative cultivates, mentors, and supports Black ballet choreographers, providing concrete opportunities for them to create work and present it on mainstages.

The performances will feature a newly commissioned ballet by Jennifer Archibald, Kiyon Ross, and Meredith Rainey, along with works by Black choreographers that showcase the progress of MoBBallet’s Pathways to Performance program.

In addition to providing spaces for unheard voices to thrive, Pathways to Performance offers an environment for healing through art. In her efforts to shift the culture of ballet, Howard gives insight to Black dancers on navigating the rapidly shifting landscape, activating one’s activism safely and strategically, and building community.

This engagement will feature the unique opportunity for Black ballet dancers to experience a space where Blackness is centered in the art—this time under the guidance of award-winning choreographer Jennifer Archibald. Howard and Archibald will assemble a cast of dancers representing the future of ballet. The dancers will then participate in a two-week creative process through Kennedy Center Social Impact’s Office Hours Residency Program, culminating in a world premiere work on the Pathways to Performance program.

Here, young artists can experience ballet in a balletic environment where they are not the exception, but the rule.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE HERE