About
Founded in 2020, Ballet22 exists to push the boundaries of what is possible in ballet by focusing on producing and presenting works that break gender normative traditions, specifically by presenting men, mxn, and non-binary artists “en pointe.” The company is dedicated to commissioning works that bring LGBTQIA+ representation to the art form.
Since its founding, Ballet22 has commissioned twelve new ballets that contribute to representation in the ballet world. The company was named by Dance Magazine “25 to Watch” in 2022 and received an Isadora Duncan Dance Award Nomination for the 2021-22 season for Outstanding Achievement in Performance – Company.
Under the leadership of co-founder Theresa Knudson, and co-directors Lorris Eichinger and Daniel R. Durrett, the company continues to expand its relationships with queer artists and creatives, and prioritizes commissioning both live and filmed works that bring inclusion to the LGBTQIA+ community and experience in ballet.
Ballet22 is based in Oakland, CA at BlackBox Studios.
Vision
The creation of Ballet22 was inspired by a lack of representation and opportunities in the ballet field for men, mxn, transgender, and non binary artists to perform professionally "en pointe". Ballet22 is dedicated to commissioning new works that give representation to mxn dancers en pointe, as well as works that amplify queer voices. The vision is to expand ballet repertoire to be more inclusive by presenting works outside of the context of the specific gender roles they were created for, and to create new works that reflect the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, the company aims to create positive change to ballet culture by providing a respectful and safe place to work.