Louisville Ballet announces the 2024-2025 Season

Season Ticket Packages on sale now for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 productions

LOUISVILLE, KY – Louisville Ballet is proud to present performance details for their upcoming 2024-2025 Season. Experience beloved traditions, thrilling world premieres, and inspiring stories of love, hope, and magic in a season where the power of connection is center stage. Honoring their history and celebrating a bright future, Louisville Ballet’s 73rd season represents the broad spectrum of what ballet can be: explosive, transformative, surprising, and healing.

“Louisville Ballet is excited for our inaugural full season under Artistic Directors Harald Uwe Kern and Mikelle Bruzina”, shared Leslie Smart, CEO. “We are boldly moving into our 73rd year and showcasing beautiful story ballets alongside new works that will not be seen anywhere else in the world.”

The 2024-2025 Season begins with Studio Connections at Louisville Ballet Studios, where magnificent works from the stage are transformed for an intimate studio setting, featuring a world premiere work by Artistic Director Mikelle Bruzina. In November, The Brown Theatre’s stage will present three world premieres for Triple Take — a mixed-repertory program featuring three new works by Harald Uwe Kern, Adam Hougland, and Ching Ching Wong. The music will span three centuries, including classics of Robert Schumann and Igor Stravinsky as well as the contemporary soundtrack of Louisville’s own Jack Harlow. Finally, The Brown-Forman Nutcracker returns in December to bring the classic holiday tale of Marie and her Nutcracker prince to life with delightfully local flair.

“Uwe and I have been involved with Louisville Ballet for 36 years collectively,” said Mikelle Bruzina. “Louisville Ballet Artists all have very strong ballet technique under their belts, and from that, they are able to take on any kind of dance movement. So this is a fun season of diverse exploration for everyone.”

Louisville Ballet begins 2025 with A Time to Remember, a multidisciplinary performance marking 80 years since the end of the Holocaust, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Louisville. The annual Choreographers’ Showcase follows, promising bold new choreography by the Artists of Louisville Ballet at their Main Street Studios. The season concludes with Alun Jones’ Cinderella — the classic tale of love, magic, and transformation, sure to be a delight for the whole family.

“We love presenting the classics to our community,” said Artistic Director Harald Uwe Kern, “But ballet is a living art form. And this season is about showcasing our artists in a full spectrum of ballet works.”

2024-2025 Season Ticket Packages, offering up to 20% savings on two or more performances, are now available at LouisvilleBallet.org. Current or new subscribers can purchase online or by calling the Louisville Ballet Box Office at (502) 583-2623. Single tickets for the 2024-2025 Season will be on sale in August.

Fall 2024 productions:

Studio Connections
September 13-22 at Louisville Ballet Studios
Pas de Six and Tarantella from Napoli Act III | Choreography by Marius Petipa
Entrance of the Shades from La Bayadère Act III | Choreography by August Bournonville
World premiere | Choreography by Mikelle Bruzina

Established in 2012 and returning as an annual tradition, Studio Connections offers a closer look at the artistry of ballet, bringing magnificent works from the stage to Louisville Ballet’s intimate Main Street studios. Journey through Italy with jubilant excerpts from Napoli, be hypnotized by the dreamlike spirits of La Bayadère, and witness the world premiere of a new work by Artistic Director Mikelle Bruzina.

Triple Take
November 1-3 at The Brown Theatre
World premiere by Adam Hougland | Music by Igor Stravisnky
Influences by Harald Uwe Kern | Music by Robert Schumann
502 by Ching Ching Wong | Music by Jack Harlow

Hits of Louisville’s own Jack Harlow and symphonies of Stravinsky and Schumann collide with electrifying new choreography in this mixed-repertory program. Featuring three world premieres by Artistic Director Harald Uwe Kern, Resident Choreographer Adam Hougland, and Ching Ching Wong, this collection of three never-before-seen classical and contemporary works will keep you on your toes.

The Brown-Forman Nutcracker
Dec. 13-24 at Whitney Hall
Choreography by Val Caniparoli | Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Join Marie and her valiant Nutcracker prince on a magical journey to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. With world-class choreography, sets, and costumes crafted for Kentucky, The Brown-Forman Nutcracker is a must-see local tradition.

Spring 2025 productions:

A Time to Remember
Feb. 1-2 at Whitney Hall
Choreography by Domy Reiter-Soffer
In partnership with the Jewish Federation of Louisville and Kentucky Opera and in memory of Minx and Sy Auerbach.

“When words fail to convey the complex emotions surrounding the Holocaust, artistic expression tells the story of the healing power of the human spirit to overcome great tragedy. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the language of music and dance speaks ten thousand fold.” – Choreographer Domy Reiter-Soffer, from A Time to Remember’s 1995 world premiere.

A Time to Remember, set against the tragedy of the Holocaust, follows two central characters on a journey of horrific loss, resilient survival, and profound healing. In telling their story, A Time to Remember honors the millions of lives lost and illuminates the spirit of hope in those who survived. Featuring a live orchestra and choir performances, this multi-media arts experience offers a powerful perspective on both the darkness and the light of humanity.

Choreographers’ Showcase
Feb 21-March 2 at Louisville Ballet Studios
Choreography by the Artists of Louisville Ballet

Step into the studio for an up-close and personal look at a mix of bold new works. Celebrating its 30-year anniversary, this dynamic annual production highlights the innovation and athleticism of the Artists of Louisville Ballet.

Cinderella
April 4-6 at Whitney Hall
Choreography by Alun Jones

Choreographed by Alun Jones, this dreamy and comical story of a servant turned princess is sure to delight the whole family. When Cinderella is forced to endure the antics of two ugly stepsisters, she finds escape through a kindhearted Fairy Godmother, a handsome prince, and one enchanted pair of glass slippers.