The word “Ballet” often evokes the staple image of a rigorous performance of the Nutcracker or Black Swan, performed with the technical pas de deux (dance of two) performances. A new production, however, seeks to shatter the stereotypes of toxic dance culture, with eating disorders and dying careers, through a ballet musical, showcasing over 100 artists of varying ages, right from four year old tiny tots to 35-year-old performers.

“We have students of all ages and all body types excelling as ballerinas, and it has been my aim to break the myth that ballet dies with old age” director Dhvani Kothari shares, as she tells us about the inclusivity and versatility of the performance. To cite just one example, two of the performers in the vast array are a mother and daughter duo, playing two different characters.