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Ballet X

BalletX produces original choreography that expands the vocabulary of classical dance for all audiences.

BalletX is a new Philadelphia dance company with an ambitious goal -- to redefine ballet and bring it into the new century.  While firmly rooted in rigorous, classical ballet training and technique, BalletX brings a contemporary sensibility to the art form, infusing its work with a new vision of athleticism, emotion and intimacy.

BalletX reflects the daring vision of two gifted dancers and choreographers, Matthew Neenan and Christine Cox.  As longtime dancers with the Pennsylvania Ballet, Matt and Christine were looking for new ways to express their vision of dance.  In 2000, they and two others created Phrenic New Ballet, which quickly won acclaim for its stylish, skillful performances and its dazzling choreography.

In 2005, the artistic directors of Phrenic agreed that they were starting to move in different directions.  United by a shared love for ballet, a professional history at the Pennsylvania Ballet, and a yearning to explore uncharted artistic horizons, Matt and Christine have decided to devote themselves to challenging the classical tradition.  The result is BalletX.

BalletX was selected for inclusion in the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour Roster. Funding may be available to support performance engagements with presenters in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA, Va, WV and the US Virgin Islands.

How to describe a BalletX performance?  Probably, it can’t be done--you need to see it for yourself.  In the meantime, read what the critics have said.  And, of course, you can contact us or help support this exciting new company.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S BIOS:

Christine Cox
Artistic Director

Christine Cox began her ballet training with the Pennsylvania Ballet School and continued at the Philadelphia High School for the Performing Arts, spending summer sessions at the Joffrey and San Francisco Ballet schools. After high school, she danced with Balletmet in Columbus, Ohio for five years before moving to New York. There, Christine danced as a guest artist with Ballet Hispanico and performed for President George H.W. Bush at the Ford Theatre. She then spent one year with America Repertory Ballet Theatre before joining Pennsylvania Ballet in 1993.

Christine has premiered works by a number of gifted choreographers, including Ib Anderson, Rennie Harris, James Kudelka, John McFall, Trey McIntyre, Matthew Neenan, Kevin O'Day, David Parsons, Kirk Peterson, and Christopher Wheeldon. Some of her featured roles include Rum and Coca-Cola in Paul Taylor’s Company B; Vortex in Alvin Ailey’s The River; Choleric in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments; Eve in Margo Sappington’s Rodin, Mis En Vie; the Cowgirl in Agnus DeMille’s Rodeo; and one of the principal females in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free and The Concert.

Christine co-founded Phrenic New Ballet in 2000 and choreographed several works for the company as well as for Shut Up and Dance, an annual AIDS benefit presented by the Dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet. She has been awarded fellowship grants from the Independence Foundation and The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for her choreography.

In 2004 Christine co-founded BalletX with her long time collaborator Matthew Neenan. They have received critical acclaim and most recently were invited to perform at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. In May of 2006, she staged Mr. Neenan’s 11:11 on Pennsylvania Ballet and rehearsed the company for the New York premiere at The City Center. She has received two Rocky Awards for outstanding achievement in the arts and has worked for 7 years as Assistant Rehearsal Director for the children in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. She currently choreographs and teaches at The University of the Arts, Swarthmore College and surrounding studios in the area.

Matthew Neenan
Artistic Director

Matthew Neenan began his dance training at the Boston Ballet School and with noted teachers Nan C. Keating and Jacqueline Cronsberg.  He later attended the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and the School of American Ballet in New York.

In 1994, Matthew joined the Pennsylvania Ballet where he has danced numerous principal roles in works by George Balanchine, John Cranko, Paul Taylor, Peter Martins, Val Caniparoli, Jorma Elo, Lila York, Meredith Rainey, Jeffrey Gribler, Christopher Wheeldon and Jerome Robbins.

From 2000-2004, Matthew co-founded and co-directed Phrenic New Ballet, which toured extensively with Matthew’s choreography to New York City, Artscape Festival in Baltimore and the Jacob’s Pillow Festival in Becket, Massachusetts.  In 2005 Matthew co-founded BalletX with fellow dancer Christine Cox.

Matthew’s choreography has also been performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet (totaling seven commissions), the Philadelphia Opera Company, The Russian Ballet Theatre, LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, Ballet Pacifica and the Juilliard School.  His ballet 11:11, set to the music of Rufus Wainwright, was performed at City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival in New York this past September.  He has received numerous awards and grants for his choreography from the National Endowment of the Arts, Dance Advance funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Choo San Goh Foundation, and the Independence Foundation, and is a three-time recipient of grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.  He was profiled in the February 2005 issues of Dance Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine.

In 2002, Matthew accepted an invitation to perform and teach at the Silesian International Dance Festival in Poland.  He also participated in the Fall 2003 New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute under the direction of Peter Martins.  In June 2004, Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania premiered his first full-length ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  His new Carmina Burana for Pennsylvania Ballet will premiere in March 2007, and in May 2007 he will premiere a new work for Washington Ballet’s 7x7 program.

2008-2009 TOURING PROGRAMS:

BalletX offers full evening length concerts or abbreviated performances specified for your programming needs.

RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES:

TECHNICAL INFORMATION: