20th Anniversary
Main Stage Festival

Welcome to our celebration of 20 years of dance in Laguna Beach and beyond! Join us in honoring the incredible BalletX from Philadelphia, along with principal guest artists from Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and JA Collective. Experience stunning choreography by renowned artists Dwight Rhoden, Jillian Meyers, and Jodie Gates, featuring performances by our talented Laguna Dance Young Artist Scholarship recipients. There’s so much more in store—let’s dance!
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 7:30 PM – Program 1

An Evening
with BalletX
and Live Music

"Daring, enigmatic, beautiful" – FJORD REVIEW

BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, unites artistic innovation with technical excellence to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace. Founded in 2005 and led by Artistic & Executive Director Christine Cox, the company has commissioned nearly 80 choreographers from around the world to produce 140 world premieres that are “fresh, inclusive, and connect to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen). BalletX returns to us with all Laguna premieres including:

Honey, choreography by Jamar Roberts, music by Don Shirley

Mapping Out a Sky, choreography by Matthew Neenan, music inspired by Stephen Sondheim

World Premiere, choreography by Jodie Gates. A collaboration with the Laguna Beach Music Festival, music by Sergei Rachmaninoff.


Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes including post-show Q&A

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOV. 15, 2024 TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Friday, February 7, 2025 | 7:30 PM – Program 2

Featuring BalletX

among America’s bestThe New York Times

BalletX is Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, unites artistic innovation with technical excellence to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace. “fresh, inclusive, and connect to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen). BalletX returns to us with Laguna premieres of three thrilling dance works including two by nationally recognized women choreographers, Jennifer Archibald and Jodie Gates, and Become a Mountain by Tony Award Winner, Justin Peck!

• Beautiful Once, Music by Oscar nominated composer Ryan Lott of Son Lux. Choreography by Jodie Gates

• Become a Mountain, Choreography by Tony Award winner Justin Peck. Music by Dan Deacon

• Exalt, Choreography by Jennifer Archibald. Music design by Foremost Poets


Running time: 1 hour
15 minutes with one intermission and one pause

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOV. 15, 2024 TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 7:30 PM – Program 3

STARS OF DANCE
20th Anniversary
Performance
(One Night Only!)

Be swept away into a star-studded evening filled with dance stars from across the nation. From New York City and Boston to Houston and back to LA and the OC, this show features principal guest dancers Viktorina Kapitonova and Daniel Rubin from Boston Ballet, the sensational duo of JA Collective, Laguna favorites and principal dancers from Houston Ballet, Beckanne Sisk and Chase O’Connell, Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez from Joffrey Ballet, and nationally recognized artists Jillian Meyers and Jake Tribus. Experience world-class classical ballet, tap, and contemporary choreographic works by Helen Pickett, Jodie Gates, JA Collective & Jillian Meyers. And add a sprinkle of Laguna Dance’s Young Artist Scholarship Winners along with dance majors from UC Irvine and the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance!

 

Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes with one intermission

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOV. 15, 2024 TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Sunday, February 9, 2025 | 2:00 PM – Program 4

STARS OF DANCE
20th Anniversary
Performance
(One Day Only!)

Be swept away into a star-studded afternoon filled with dance stars from across the nation and local talent. New York City to Chicago to Houston and back to LA and the OC, this show features live music accompanying guest dancers Jillian Davis, April Watson and Joe González from Complexions Contemporary Ballet, dancing Dwight Rhoden’s iconic works Elegy and Ave Maria. This thrilling afternoon also features principal dancers Beckanne Sisk and Chase O’Connell from Houston Ballet, Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez from Joffrey Ballet, JA Collective, Jillian Meyers, and Jake Tribus. Experience world-class classical ballet, tap, and contemporary choreographic works by Jodie Gates, JA Collective, Dwight Rhoden and Jillian Meyers. And add a sprinkle of Laguna Dance’s Young Artist Scholarship Winners along with dancers from Chapman University!

 

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes with one intermission 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOV. 15, 2024 TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC