January is a celebration of movement, drama, and sheer artistic brilliance. This month, we’re diving into works that challenge, inspire, and mesmerize—the kind of pieces that stay with you long after the final curtain call. Here’s what we’re watching:
Alvin Ailey: Chroma & Revelations
Let’s begin with Alvin Ailey’s electric double feature—Chroma and Revelations.
Chroma is a visual and kinetic masterpiece, bursting with energy and precision. It’s a study in contrasts: stark white sets offset by berry-toned costumes, movement that feels both restrained and explosive. Watching Ailey’s dancers interpret Wayne McGregor’s choreography brings a whole new vitality to this modern classic. It’s not just a performance; it’s an experience of rhythm, color, and raw emotion.
Then there’s Revelations. This iconic work is a journey through spirituality and resilience, rooted in the deep traditions of the African-American experience. It’s more than dance; it’s a sermon, a story, and a celebration of the human spirit. If you’ve seen it before, you’ll know it always feels like coming home. And if it’s your first time? Prepare to be moved.
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI
From the passionate duets to the breathtaking sets, Riccardo Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini is pure, unfiltered drama. Imagine a stage transformed by towering floral motifs and monochromatic furniture, with costumes so tailored they could be walking straight off a runway. The story of Francesca’s forbidden love is as timeless as it is tragic, and the music wraps around you like a velvet ribbon. This opera is a feast for the senses—an intricate tapestry of sound, story, and spectacle.
The Red Shoes Ballet
Finally, we step into the enchanted world of The Red Shoes. This Matthew Bourne masterpiece takes the iconic 1948 film and spins it into a spellbinding ballet. With sets that shift seamlessly between backstage drama and surreal dreamscapes, and costumes that are both glamorous and evocative, this production is as much a love letter to the art of performance as it is a story of ambition and obsession. The choreography is bold, the emotions raw, and those red shoes? They’ll haunt your dreams—in the best way possible.
This month’s watchlist invites you to explore the boundaries of art—from the abstract to the intimate, the contemporary to the timeless. Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or stepping into these worlds for the first time, these performances promise to leave you inspired. Pour yourself a cup of tea, find a cozy corner, and join us in celebrating the beauty of January through the lens of dance, opera, and story.
You don’t need a plan—just curiosity. The Art of Wonder is a self-paced 4-week course to help you slow down, notice more, and reawaken your creative gaze. HERE!
