By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
James Sewell Ballet will take their final bow on the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center stage on Saturday, March 8. The performance will be the ballet company’s last dance in Big Sky after 11 years of ballet productions.
“Known for its distinctive blend of classical ballet’s elegance, modern dance’s freedom, and vaudeville’s playful innovation, the company has captivated local audiences and enriched the cultural landscape of Big Sky,” a WMPAC press release stated. Tickets are still available online.
March 8 is also International Women’s Day and WMPAC will hold a pre-show market celebrating the creativity of local female artists. “Moving as a Woman,” the pre-show gallery and art market will showcase the work of over 15 artists from Big Sky and Bozeman. Artists will sell their work, including prints, small art pieces and handmade goods. The market opens at 6 p.m. at WMPAC.
James Sewell Ballet, a Minneapolis-based dance company, started in 1993. On Nov. 12, 2024, the company announced its closure after 35 seasons, citing declining philanthropy for dance, a shifting touring market and impacts of the COVID pandemic as reasons for closure. Final performances are in March 2025.
“Now is the moment when an intentional, celebratory sunset can still take shape, with respect to timing of messaging and realistic fundraising goals to close out the season,” Eve Schulte, executive director of JSB, stated in the release.
In the WMPAC press release, James Sewell, the company’s founder and artistic director, thanked audiences.
“We are enormously grateful to everyone along the way who has believed in us and supported us,” Sewell stated.
