ballet neo
Contemporary Ballet
the company
Ballet Neo celebrates the technical aesthetics of classical ballet, exploring the discipline as an expressive tool. Ballet Neo’s repertory by Artistic Director Kate Thomas encompasses sophisticated motifs of intimacy and loneliness, classical narratives, and refined responses to experimental music. Our mission is to mine the classical ballet vocabulary to articulate broad aspects of the human experience to ensure ballet as art is and remains relevant. Ballet Neo supports new works on pointe by female choreographers and those who diverge from traditional gender distinctions.
Company performances include APAP, New Choreographers on Pointe, Danny Kaye Theater, 92nd StY, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Downtown Dance Festivals, DRA, The Brooklyn Dance Festival, and MMAC.
Plans include collaboration with various disciplines through workshops and performances, community outreach, new ballets, The Heroine's Journey, a gender study, Swan Street, a new ballet memoir, and BNYP, a youth workshop.
Ballet Neo
our history
Ballet Neo began with a small group of dancers performing Thomas’ work. Founded by Artistic Director and Choreographer Kate Thomas, Ballet Neo's mission is to create and produce works on pointe that celebrate the beauty of classical ballet while exploring the discipline’s ability to express the expanse of human emotions.
A collaboration with Grammy Award-winning violinist and composer Mark O’Connor on a ballet The Appalachian Suites Project, inspired by the largest industrial disaster in the United States, the Monongah, West Virginia mining disaster of 1907. Ballet Neo Performances of this work include APAP at Peridance, two New Choreographers on Pointes Previews at the 92nd Street Y, and the Ailey Citigroup Theater, the Ailey Citigroup Theater. Ballet Neo premiered Appalachian Suites in their NYC season at MMAC in March 2016.
The company has performed at the Downtown Dance Festival (August 2006, 2008 & 2015), Dancers Responding to AIDS (2005), International Dance Festival, The Brooklyn Dance Festival (2015), Choreography on the Edge (2011, 2013), An Evening with Chamber Ballet, Ballet Arts Showcase, Steps Faculty Showcase and Academy of Performing Arts in Hudson, NY. Ballet Neo premiered Measurement and Caution, music by Nini Raviolette and Acoustica in the New Choreographers on Pointe, Ballet Builders, at the Kaye Playhouse in New York City. Ballet Neo produced a New York City season at MMAC and regularly produces Salon Series- Open Rehearsals.
Create and Educate
Portfolio of Work in Progress
Work begins on several fronts. The Heroine'z Journey, a gender study, new repertory, Swan Street, a ballet memoir, and Mrs Dalloway a quartet ballet, Mrs Dalloway. This continues Thomas' investigation of time and memory.
Ballet Neo Young Professionals are unique weekly summer dance workshops. Centrally located at New York Live Arts. BNYP Summer 2024 is designed to develop dedicated dancers' artistic personalities.
Swan Street
A self-portrait poem in a diary, the taste of icing on cake served at breakfast, inspired the new work, entitled "Swan Street,"
a Proustian experience reimagined from an N.J. suburb to adulthood. Experiences shared through generations destroy our perception of time, creating a portal to the past and future. This ideational territory is the sphere the proposed new work, "Swan Street," explores,
BNYP Summer Workshops
Work with experienced professionals in an investigation of movement quality and performance presence, explore approaches to choreography and unleash a mature and powerful performer.
BNYP Summer 2024 initiates a formal trainee program for Ballet Neo.
Carefully crafted by Artistic Director Kate Thomas to challenge, inspire, and educate. Experienced and dedicated teachers and guest master teachers prioritize individual creative growth and technical advancement.
Ballet Neo
in the news
“…Intelligent and packed with technical challenges for their skillful performers.”
–New York Times
“…Swept about as if driven by a cool breeze. The arm and torso movements…had the freedom associated with the great modern-dance pioneer Isadora Duncan. Yet feet moved classically on pointe.”
-New York Times
“…Movements and shapes were thought through and exploited in both conception and execution. Sculptures were interesting and evocative, especially when all three bodies were used together, whether at one point in space or across the stage area.”
–R. Pikser
“The strongest emotional connection of the program came from Kate Thomas, who fashioned a very moving work, APPALACHIAN SUITES, using the music of Mark O’Connor.”
–Oberon’s Grove
Join us
Many Ways To Help
Sustaining a contemporary ballet company in this country requires vigilance and community.
We welcome you to explore the different opportunities to support the company and consider joining Ballet Neo today.
Offer your skills to Ballet Neo
Join our Benefit Committee
Ask about becoming a Board Member
Spread the word about our plans through your contacts
To reconnect and say thank you
All donations include invitations to events.
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Together, we can propel Ballet Neo into the future.
welcome to our journey
Contact us today to help in our work.
301 W 108th St New York NY United States 10025
(646) 573-5936