Nocturnes: five ballets

Brilliant, bold, and not to be missed—Pointeworks returned to The Conrad this past summer with Nocturnes: Five Ballets, an evening of extraordinary dance and live music. Curated by Artistic Director Sophie Williams, Season III brought together world-class artists from across the country in a dynamic program choreographed entirely by women.

The performance featured two world premieres: Jacquelyn Long’s new ballet, Moving Forces, with an original score by award-winning composer Katie Jenkins, performed live by virtuosic pianist Joshua Mhoon and violinist Julia Choi, and a new creation titled Spillover by acclaimed choreographer Keerati Jinakunwiphat, a 2023 Princess Grace Award winner and the first Asian American woman commissioned to create for New York City Ballet.

The heart of Nocturnes lies in three ballets that illuminate love in its many forms. Audiences loved experiencing the Northern Hemisphere premiere of Andrea Schermoly’s Romeo and Juliet, a poetic reimagining of Shakespeare’s timeless romance; Dani Rowe’s Unsaid, staged by the legendary Sofiane Sylve and hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “another dark heartbreaker” that earned a standing ovation; and the return of Reka Gyulai’s Transcendence, which enthralled audiences last season with its sweeping imagery and powerful exploration of love’s endurance.

With groundbreaking premieres, richly imagined love stories, and commanding contemporary works, Nocturnes expanded the boundaries of ballet—making dance more relevant, immersive, and electrifying than ever.