Oklahoma City, OK, April 8, 2025: Oklahoma City Ballet will present a world premiere ballet featuring the music of Oklahoma City legends, The Flaming Lips, debuting May 9-11, at the Civic Center Music Hall. This world-premiere work, created by Oklahoma City Ballet Artistic Director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, will be the first time a professional ballet company has utilized music by The Flaming Lips.
The world premiere will be part of SHORTS, a dynamic program showcasing three short ballets in one evening. SHORTS will feature a wonderful variety, including Otra Vez, an Afro-Cuban ballet by Stephanie Martinez; Divertimento No. 15, a neo-classical ballet by George Balanchine; and Jolicoeur-Nye’s world premiere featuring songs spanning several decades by The Flaming Lips.
“As a longtime fan of The Flaming Lips, this project feels like a fusion of two worlds I love – rock music and dance. I want to break down ballet stereotypes and rock and roll stereotypes, blending them in a way that redefines how one thinks of OKC Ballet,” said Artistic Director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.
Every element of The Flaming Lips ballet will be created in Oklahoma City, from sets and costumes to music and choreography, and all performed by Oklahoma City Ballet’s professional dancers.
“Oklahoma City Ballet is committed to presenting ballet in a new and exciting way. We want ballet to be accessible and fun, and music is a great avenue to introduce new audiences to ballet. The Flaming Lips have been OKC’s resident rock stars for 40 years, and we are thrilled to have their support for this production,” said Whitney Cross, Director of Development and Communications for Oklahoma City Ballet.
Otra Vez, created by Chicago-based choreographer Stephanie Martinez, is an Afro-Cuban ballet featuring eight dancers. Jolicoeur-Nye, who previously presented the work while leading NW Arkansas Ballet Theatre, shared his excitement, “I loved the music and the dancers’ movement. I knew it was time to share this beautiful work with Oklahoma City”, remarked Jolicoeur-Nye.
“Loosely based on “The Old Guitarist” by Pablo Picasso, Otra Vez is a story about unseen lives -- each random passerby living a life as vivid and complex as our own,” said Jolicoeur-Nye.
SHORTS will also include Divertimento No. 15 by legendary choreographer George Balanchine. This work features Mozart’s Divertimento No. 15, which Balanchine believed to be the finest divertimento ever created. Originally premiered by New York City Ballet in 1956, this work features five principal female dancers, three principal male dancers, and a corps of eight females.
“This ballet is a hallmark of Balanchine’s style. It seamlessly blends neo-classical innovation with the purity of classical ballet, intricate ensemble work, and individuality of variations,” said Jolicoeur-Nye.
Single tickets range from $20 to $103 and are available now through Oklahoma City Ballet and Civic Center Box offices. They are also available online at www.okcballet.org.
Performances of SHORTS will take place on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased by calling Oklahoma City Ballet 405-848-TOES (8637), online at www.okcballet.org, or by calling the Civic Center Box office at 405-297-2264. All performances take place at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 North Walker, Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Ballet Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located at 6800 North Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City.
For more information, tickets, and list of available performances, call 405-838-TOES (8637), visit okcballet.org, or follow Oklahoma City Ballet on social media @okcballet.