Ballet Black will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new double bill at the Barbican, London from 24–27 March 2022.
Black Sun by South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma (Vuyani Dance Theatre) featuring an original score by Michael 'Mikey J' Asante (Boy Blue), described by Maqoma “as a work that draws energy from the sun and the moon giving rise to descendants of ancestors. These forces only meet to blacken, allowing us to draw from their powers as we prepare for life after life.”
Say It Loud is choreographed and directed by Ballet Black's founder and Artistic Director, Cassa Pancho. Created by Pancho and the BB Company artists, it charts the struggles and inspiration behind the formation of this pioneering company, from the uncomfortable reasons behind the Company’s existence to the creative energy that has seen them create repertoire and build a reputation as a necessary part of the British ballet industry.
Pancho said, "it’s hard to believe that Ballet Black is twenty years old! For our latest programme, I wanted to focus on celebrating our history, now that we are old enough to have one, and pay tribute to those who have been part of making Ballet Black what it is today.
"I spent a long time considering which choreographer would be best placed to tell our story before coming to the conclusion that it needed to be told by the Company itself.
"I worked closely with the BB artists to create each section of Say It Loud, a piece that explores the formation of Ballet Black, our absolute love of ballet and the legacy of racism and colourism that still affects black and Asian artists today.”
Following the première at the Barbican, Ballet Black will tour nationally.