Boston Ballet Principal Dancer John Lam To Showcase Dance Film With Artists Sharing What Dance Means

Boston Ballet releases inspiring new work by Principal Dancer John Lam featuring 22 Boston Ballet dancers sharing what dance means to them.

"I wanted to create a work that expresses the importance and purpose of dance at this crucial time in our society," said Lam. "I believe that dance nourishes our souls and exists in order to perpetuate hope in all humanity. I hope this video inspires the artist in every person."

The three-minute video with choreography by Lam features principal dancers Paulo Arrais, Kathleen Breen Combes, Lia Cirio, Ashley Ellis, and Lasha Khozashvili, among other company dancers. Each individual dancer expresses in a single word what dance means to them, which ranges from "joy" to "change." Then, they unite as Lam expresses in a voiceover what dance is to all of them. The video can be viewed on Boston Ballet's Facebook page and on BostonBallet.org.

This video comes at a time when funding levels for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are set to expire on April 28thand a complete elimination of the NEA is currently under consideration. The National Endowment for the Arts is the nation's single largest funder of the nonprofit arts-even at just .005% of the federal budget. Since its establishment in 1965, the NEA has enriched the lives of billions of people by supporting world-class dance, theater, music, and visual arts.

"Art inspires us to explore our humanity and connection to each other," said Executive Director Meredith (Max) Hodges. "The arts enrich our lives, and the NEA makes this possible. It is critical that we continue to invest in the vitality of our vibrant national culture."

About Boston Ballet

Since 1963, Boston Ballet's internationally acclaimed performances of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballets, combined with a dedication to world class dance education and community initiative programs, have made the institution a leader in its field, with a 53-year history of promoting excellence and access to dance.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Meredith Max Hodges, the Company maintains a diverse repertoire, ranging from full-length ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.

Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to providing exceptional dance education and ballet training to students across three studios in Boston, Newton, and the North Shore. Led by Director Margaret Tracey, the School reaches more than 5,000 students (toddler to adult) each year through its four core programs: Children's Program, Classical Ballet Program, Adult Dance Program, and Pre-Professional Program.

Boston Ballet's Department of Education and Community Initiatives (ECI) provides programming, events, and activities that connect the community to dance. ECI reaches more than 4,000 individuals in Boston, North Shore, and the surrounding communities each year through Citydance, ECI on Location, Adaptive Dance, and other community programs.

For more information, please visit bostonballet.org.

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