Ticket Sales OPEN for Variations/Collaborations 2026

On Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:00pm, Metropolitan Ballet Company will take the stage at the Kurtz Center at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia for an extraordinary evening of dance. Variations/Collaborations brings together Metropolitan Ballet Company and guest artists from Philadelphia Ballet II for a dynamic program celebrating contemporary choreography, classical excellence, and artistic partnership.

This highly anticipated performance showcases works by acclaimed choreographers Tommie-Waheed Evans, David Fernandez, Gabrielle Lamb, Sarah Mettin, and Tyler Schnese - each bringing a distinct voice and vision to the program.

David Fernandez’s Glimmer, a world premiere, blends refined, structured choreography with buoyant, celebratory pointe work and movement. Inspired by the idea of “a faint, wavering shine” and those fleeting moments that spark joy, peace, and quiet happiness, the work unfolds as both intimate and radiant. The result is a luminous new creation that captures the power of small sparks to illuminate something far greater.

Originally created for Metropolitan Ballet Company in 2014, Tommie-Waheed Evans’ Rush Hour is a high-energy contemporary ballet defined by its dynamic musicality and virtuosic, technical movement. An audience favorite from its debut, the work pulses with momentum and urgency, electrifying the stage and inviting viewers to feel the rush from start to finish.

Tyler Schnese’s Nowhere Near is a contemporary ballet pas de deux that places classical pointe work within a modern movement vocabulary. Exploring the emotional push and pull of a relationship, the piece captures what it means to feel nowhere near one another, and the vulnerability and clarity required to reach a place of resolve.

Sarah Mettin, Metropolitan Ballet’s Associate Artistic Director, premieres Steel Breeze, a new work for 26 dancers. Rooted in contemporary modern movement and an infectious groove, the choreography layers sweeping phrases, rhythmic complexity, and momentum. Dancing as individuals and as one, the ensemble transforms the pull of artificial and interpersonal forces into bold, connected, and unifying movement.

Philadelphia Ballet II will perform Don't Think Twice, a work for 12 dancers by celebrated NYC-based choreographer Gabrielle Lamb, In Her Dreams with choreography by Davit Karapetyan, and the classical pas de deux, Diana & Acteon.

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