BalletX Celebrates 20 Years of Innovative Ballet and Choreography in Philadelphia

In 2005, Christine Cox sought to engage innovative choreographers who could create new works for a group of dancers primarily consisting of her friends and colleagues from Pennsylvania Ballet. This initiative marked the inception of what would become a notable entity in Philadelphia’s arts landscape: BalletX. Now, as the contemporary ballet company celebrates its 20th anniversary, it reflects on its extraordinary journey.

Cox, now 56, describes herself as a short-term planner, focusing on immediate goals rather than a grand vision. Despite her modest beginnings, she tirelessly promoted BalletX wherever she could, from handing out postcards in public spaces to inflating balloons for a fair on Walnut Street. Her grassroots advertising efforts engaged the community and were pivotal in the early stages of the company’s growth.

From its humble origins, BalletX has rapidly evolved. Initially formed with co-founder Matthew Neenan, who later shifted his focus to choreography while maintaining a collaborative relationship with the company, BalletX now employs 16 dancers under a remarkable contract that encompasses a full year of employment, six weeks of paid vacation, and a matching 401(k) plan. This level of commitment and support for the dancers is relatively unusual in the ballet world and underscores BalletX’s growth and ambition.

Over the past two decades, Cox has commissioned 150 world premieres from 80 different choreographers, significantly influencing the careers of emerging talents and bringing renowned creators to Philadelphia. To commemorate its two decades of artistic contributions, BalletX will present two retrospective performances at the Suzanne Roberts Theater, showcasing both early and recent works along with a new creation by rehearsal director Keelan Whitmore.

The upcoming performances will highlight a total of 18 commissioned works, with each piece presented in excerpts of six minutes or less. The first week will feature selections from the company’s foundational works, while the second week will present newer choreographies, encapsulating BalletX’s evolution and adaptability.

Cox’s recognition of BalletX’s success, particularly post the opening of its studio on Washington Street in 2018, symbolizes a significant milestone for the company. This establishment has fostered a sense of legitimacy and pride, as evidenced by the responses received from peers across the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic also catalyzed important changes within BalletX, prompting the company to effectively transition to digital formats. It became one of the early adopters of producing work on camera, a strategy that will continue as part of the upcoming retrospective.

Each performance will reflect the evolution of BalletX. The initial program will open with the angel trio from Neenan’s work, “Frequencies,” and include pieces by choreographers like Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Edward Liang. The following week will showcase excerpts from Trey McIntyre’s luminary production, “Big Ones,” along with other noteworthy contributions.

In concluding the retrospective, Cox aims to set a forward-looking course for BalletX, symbolically launching it into its next chapter with Whitmore’s new work, thereby reinforcing the company’s mission to continuously create and innovate within the world of dance.

BalletX’s two-decade celebration will run from October 29 to November 9 at the Suzanne Roberts Theater, with tickets ranging between and .

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