Boston Ballet Proudly Presents ChoreograpHER

Peck’s Point of Departure, pulls inspiration from music composed by Caroline Shaw. 

“I am extremely grateful to Mikko for giving me my first opportunity to choreograph on a major ballet company. Working with the Boston Ballet dancers has been an absolute delight that has both challenged and inspired me as a choreographer in the studio. Most importantly, I want to applaud Mikko on his efforts to support female choreographers. This is a matter I truly believe deserves attention and care, and by creating this ChoreograpHER program, Mikko has shown his commitment to finding and amplifying more female voices. I am honored to be on the program surrounded by such talented women and cannot wait to watch all of the other works,” Peck said.

Schreier brings her distinctive choreographic voice to Boston audiences, fusing together neoclassical technique with a contemporary vocabulary. 

“I am thrilled to create a new work for Boston Ballet. The Company is rich in talent, passion, and drive, and it is an honor to work with an esteemed institution that prides itself equally on professionalism and kindness,” Schreier said.

Martin – internationally-acclaimed for her landscape of lines and existential questions – will create her first choreographic work, Kites, which pulls inspiration from the idea that a kite can represent a life that’s traveled, and its string is the memory between the past and the future.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Boston Ballet, especially when you’re venturing into the unknown as I was coming from a visual artist’s perspective into movement. It was really important and fulfilling for me to be able to do this with the support and talent of everyone from the dancers to Mikko Nissinen, who trusted me and gave me the confidence to create,” said Martin.

Cirio, who also participated in the 2018 and 2019 editions of ChoreograpHER, will create her first main stage work for the Company titled Chaptered in Fragments. 

“It is an honor to create with and choreograph on my Boston Ballet colleagues. These dancers are my family and, in my opinion, are of the highest caliber of dancers in the world. I started choreographing when Mikko approached me to join the ChoreograpHER program. I never thought of myself as a choreographer, but I am grateful for an Artistic Director who challenges us. This is my third piece for the Company and my first for the main stage. Creating Chaptered in Fragments began during a time when everything was very uncertain. We were not even sure if we could touch or be close to one another. Because of the pandemic and our rehearsal schedules, choreographing this work has been fragmented, sort of stop and start. Each time I come back to this piece, to rehearse or to add to it, the dancers and I have changed and evolved. Instead of fighting this fact, I have learned to embrace it and grow from it. In turn, the work has evolved and changed with each chapter of our lives during this unusual period,” Cirio said.

Toogood brings the authentic voice of the American modern dance legacy to Boston with her world premiere Butterflies Don’t Write Books.

“I’m an accomplished dancer and teacher, but I’m not comfortable with the title choreographer. Ultimately, I couldn’t turn down an opportunity to try and create something with such a talented Company of dancers. We had a very meaningful exchange in the studio together, and I think that will come through in their performances,” Toogood said.