BalletX is celebrating its 20th 12 months, and Christine Cox, the inventive and government director, is the driving power behind it. Throughout a Zoom interview, she started by rotating the digital camera to point out the rehearsals occurring within the vibrant studio beneath. “That’s solely half of it,” states Cox. “The partition is up proper now — often the studio is twice the scale.” The corporate was working with choreographer Amy Corridor Garner on a reimagined Petrushka that’s set to premiere in January 2026. The dancers and choreographer had been intensely targeted, the vitality degree obvious. That vigor is clear in each facet of Cox’s directorship.
Cox danced with BalletMet, Ballet Hispánico, and 13 years with Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet). Beginning her personal initiatives and choreographing was, in her phrases, a sluggish awakening within the early 2000s. She says proudly, “I used to be adventurous and wished to attempt choreography exterior of my ballet ‘field.’ A giant spark for me — and for others — was Shut Up and Dance, a profit efficiency for MANNA, a corporation that designs meals for individuals with severe sicknesses.” For one night time, the dancers would create choreography, promote tickets and lift cash.
“Choreographing wasn’t pure or straightforward for me,” Cox confesses. “It was uncomfortable territory, however I gave it a go.” Quickly after, she, together with a number of colleagues, determined to place collectively a present for the Philadelphia Fringe Pageant. That have planted the seeds. “I used to be additionally concerned with Phrenic New Ballet (2000–2004). It was actually only a summer season gig. I had no concept it could level towards my future profession.”
In 2005, whereas nonetheless with Pennsylvania Ballet, Cox and fellow dancer Matthew Neenan branched off from Phrenic and co-founded BalletX. “I retired from Pennsylvania Ballet, and we actually didn’t have an organization but; we had been nonetheless constructing,” Cox muses. Whereas engaged on BalletX’s infrastructure, she needed to maintain 4 jobs to make ends meet. Her eyes confirmed a steely willpower as she continued, “I simply stored placing one foot in entrance of the opposite, making logical choices.” One large turning level for the fledgling firm was shifting from presenting one sequence a 12 months to a few, and shifting from freelance dancers to hiring full-time firm members.
As one in all its resident corporations, The Wilma Theater was instrumental to their development. At the moment, they carry out on the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, positioned within the Avenue of the Arts district in Philadelphia. The troupe has additionally carried out at prestigious venues like The Kennedy Middle, The Joyce Theater, Vail Dance Pageant, and Jacob’s Pillow.
“In 2009, I made the choice to cease choreographing myself. There have been simply too many hats within the air. I finished dancing, stopped choreographing, and dedicated myself totally to constructing a corporation that helps choreographers and their work,” Cox says. She talked about it requiring all her vitality. Neenan ultimately stepped away from co-directing to concentrate on his choreography. “Matt and I had been a fantastic workforce — he’s an exquisite choreographer, and we had complementary abilities. However, in the end, I used to be the one driving the corporate ahead.”
In 2014, the corporate moved into their present residence, a formidable 5,000-square-foot area. Cox confesses, “Once we moved in, I didn’t know easy methods to fundraise.” She talks about studying as you go within the “college of life.” For years, she personally referred to as each donor. They had been amazed by the private contact.
Cox’s resourcefulness reveals when the pandemic shuttered their doorways. “We created 27 movies, solely laying dancers off for one week.” They filmed throughout Philadelphia and turned these world premieres into digital works. “Now, we additionally create quick documentaries for every ballet, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look. It’s been an effective way to deepen engagement.”
With 16 full-time dancers, BalletX has a formidable operational price range of about $5.7 million. Their books are “within the black,” a rarity within the dance world. Cox explains, “We’re meticulous about budgeting.” She talked about saving, planning and being aware of each greenback. The dancers are on a 52-week contract with six weeks full wage paid trip, and there’s a not too long ago added 401(okay) match for the dancers and employees, as much as 4%. In 2024, the corporate obtained a $7.4 million bequest from Joan DeJohn’s property, which has helped safe their future. “I would like BalletX to thrive for many years. Whilst a not-for-profit, we’re an financial engine — stay performances make cities extra vibrant and interesting.”
BalletX commissions choreographers from all over the world. Cox seems to be for people who find themselves, in her phrases, curious, daring and daring. “It’s about relationships and belief,” she remarks. The corporate brings choreographers again a number of instances to construct bonds. She says that the corporate has finished so many world premieres as a result of they care about creating alternatives. “BalletX has a powerful repertoire, however our eyes are all the time on the long run.”
Cox is adamant about “balancing the taking part in discipline.” She insists it hasn’t been a response to tendencies. “It’s been part of my considering for 20 years,” she explains. “About 10 years in the past, I noticed I had a program with no ladies represented. I challenged myself to repair that and create alternatives. Women and men expertise the world otherwise, and it’s essential that our neighborhood sees these views onstage.” In 2008, they offered an all-female program with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Helen Pickett and Cox’s work. “I’ve all the time wished BalletX to be a platform for various voices, each from Philadelphia and from all over the world. That selection enriches the work and the neighborhood.”
BalletX’s Dance eXchange is in six accomplice Philadelphia public colleges and brings dance to 3rd and fourth graders. The academics examine on the Nationwide Dance Institute and use that group’s curricular themes together with BalletX’s particular aptitude. Final 12 months, over 424 youngsters participated of their end-of-year performances, which had been free to households. The performances had been cut up throughout 4 reveals as a result of giant variety of college students. Cox desires everybody to expertise the ability of dance. “The dad and mom typically don’t know their youngster has such a powerful curiosity in dance till they see them onstage. We’ve seen generations of Dance eXchange youngsters educating one another strikes on the playground. These moments are priceless.”
Underneath Cox’s tenure, BalletX has produced 150 world premieres by greater than 80 choreographers. Her tenacious resolve involves the floor once more as she says, “I’m deeply persistent and resilient, and I encompass myself with like-minded colleagues.” She places the corporate imaginative and prescient in a single sentence, saying, “Once I simplified it, our imaginative and prescient got here right down to this: to create extraordinary dance experiences that encourage human connection.” She feels that’s the true essence of what dance and life are about. “Connections are in every single place, and after we sit collectively in a theater, our souls settle, and the artistry can really resonate.”
For extra info, go to www.balletx.org.
By Mary Carpenter of Dance Informa.
