BalletX

Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company returns to UMass! Founded in 2005 and led by Artistic and Executive Director Christine Cox, BalletX unites artistic innovation with technical excellence to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace. The company has commissioned 150 world premiere pieces from more than eighty choreographers from around the world, helping to expand the vocabulary of contemporary ballet while positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in the field.

BalletX’s planned repertoire for this performance includes:

Macaroni, choreographed by Loughlan Prior, 2024

In the late eighteenth century, to call someone a “macaroni” was to connect them to an effeminate character, ripe for ridicule. In this work, BalletX shines a light on a little known part of queer history, combining layers of camp humor with poignant storytelling and reclaimed pride.

Scales on the Wings of a Butterfly, choreographed by Noelle Kayser, 2025

Drawing from microscopic photography and videography, this work meditates on the beauty and complexity that exist beyond the limits of human perception, celebrating the intricate richness of life at its smallest scales.

Big Wig, choreographed by Marguerite Donlon, 2024

Donlon revisits her childhood in Ireland, where the lively footwork of Irish dance met the stillness of a restricted upper body, an effect accentuated by the bold, curly wigs of the 1980s. The result is a colorful, whimsical celebration of tradition, transformation, and the joy of imaginative play.