Global Update:

Happening This Week

• Mai Jingwen for Hong Kong Ballet – Program: Dunhuang: In Search of Light
  • October 16, 2026 – October 18, 2026: Hong Kong Ballet will present Dunhuang: In Search of Light, a world premiere work by Hong Kong Ballet Resident Choreographer Hu Song Wei Ricky (male), and co-choreographer and librettist Mai Jingwen (female), with costumes by Dieuweke Van Reij (female).
• Pam Tanowitz for New York City Ballet – Program: Adrian Danchig-Waring Farewell
  • On October 18, 2026, New York City Ballet will present Adrian Danchig-Waring’s farewell, which will feature a world premiere work by Pam Tanowitz (female), alongside works by George Balanchine (male) and Lar Lubovitch (male).
• Judith FLEX Helle and Dreya Weber for Luminario Ballet – Program: Le Ballet Jazz Noir
  • On October 18, 2026, Luminario Ballet will present Le Ballet Jazz Noir, a program featuring new works by Judith FLEX Helle (female), Damien Diaz (male), Dreya Weber (female), and Adrian Hoffman (Gender expansive) alongside works by Jackie Sleight (female).
• Anne-Marie Talmadge for Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble – Program: Queen of the Sky
  • October 21, 2026 – November 7, 2026: Not a Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble will present Queen of the Sky, a program featuring choreography by Anne-Marie Talmadge (female) and direction by Jones Talmadge (male).
• Rena Butler and Keerati Jinakunwiphat for Saint Louis Dance Theatre – Program: Fall Series
  • October 23, 2026 – October 25, 2026: Saint Louis Dance Theatre will present Fall Series, a program featuring world premiere works by Rena Butler (female), Keerati Jinakunwiphat (female), and Kirven Douthit-Boyd (male) alongside additional company repertoire.
• Chieko Imada, Margaret Mullin and Brik Middlekauff for Ballet Tucson – Program: Spirit Garden + Other Works
  • October 23, 2026 – October 25, 2026: Ballet Tucson will present Spirit Garden + Other Works, a program featuring a world premiere work by Chieko Imada (female), Margaret Mullin (female), and Brik Middlekauff (female), alongside works by Kiyon Ross (male), Chieko Imada (female), and a yet to be announced work by a Ballet Tucson company member.
• Lona Gomez for Ballet Spartanburg – Program: Cinderella
  • October 23, 2026 – October 25, 2026: Ballet Spartanburg will present Cinderella, a new ballet choreographed by Lona Gomez (female). 
• Courtney Lyon for Ballet Quad Cities – Program: The Scarlet Letter
  • October 23, 2026 – October 24, 2026: Ballet Quad Cities will present The Scarlet Letter, a world premiere by Courtney Lyon (female).
• Sabrina Sadowska for Chemnitz Ballet – Program: Hans Christian A.
  • October 24, 2026 – June 26, 2027: Chemnitz Ballet will present Hans Christian A., a world premiere ballet by Sabrina Sadowska (female). 

Female Choreography Commissions, World Premieres, and Programming

• Hélène Simoneau for Pointeworks – Program: COMPOSITIONS: An Evening of Katie Jenkins
  • On October 18, 2026, Pointeworks will present COMPOSITIONS: An Evening of Katie Jenkins, a program featuring musical compositions by Katie Jenkins (female) for three works, including a world premiere work by Hélène Simoneau (female), and works by Laine Habony (female), and Jacquelyn Long (female).
• Bobbi Jene Smith for University of Michigan – Program: The Rose Sonata
  • October 23, 2026 – October 24, 2026: the University of Michigan will present The Rose Sonata, a full-length dance work by Bobbi Jene Smith (female) and Or Schraiber (male). 
• Amy Grant Wolfe, Hallie Wilde, Dani Moya, Adeline Campbell Prest and Desiree Rondeau for Manassas Ballet Theatre – Program: Jazz in Motion
  • October 23, 2026 – October 25, 2026: Manassas Ballet Theatre will present Jazz in Motion, a program featuring new works by Amy Grant Wolfe (female), Hallie Wilde (female), Dani Moya (female), Adeline Campbell Prest (female), Desiree Rondeau (female), and Nyambayar Sukhbaatar (male).
• Milka Kjordjevich and Stephanie Dai for LA Dance Project – Program: LAUNCH:LA 2026
  • November 7, 2026 – November 8, 2026: LA Dance Project will present LAUNCH:LA 2026 a program featuring new works by Milka Kjordjevich (female) and Stephanie Dai (female).

Leadership Changes

• Kennedy Center Announces New Artistic Leadership
  • On October 10, 2026, the Kennedy Center announced that Rick Canny (male) has been appointed as the new Artistic Director.
• Boston Ballet Announces New Executive Director
  • On October 14, 2026, Boston Ballet announced that Matthew Bird (male) will succeed Ming Min Hui (female) as Executive Director of the company effective January 2027.

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