To The Pointe: Romeo & Juliet

All You Need to Know About Romeo & Juliet Before You Go

Ah, yes: star-crossed lovers, show-stopping swordsmanship, and a tragic ending for the ages. On the surface, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet seems like an easy fit for the balletic stage. But the conception of this now-classic ballet came with a host of challenges for its composer, Sergei Prokofiev. In this episode of To The Pointe, learn about the USSR’s influence on the original ballet and how it’s morphed over time, including in 1994, when Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson put his own spin on this iconic love story.

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Header Photo: Misa Kuranaga and Angelo Greco in Tomasson’s Romeo & Juliet // © Erik Tomasson