From Program One through Program Seven, The Sarasota Ballet’s 20th anniversary season is both a celebration and a clear statement of where the company stands today under the leadership of Artistic Director Iain Webb.
The 2026–27 season features 16 ballets by 13 choreographers, including eight company premieres—one of the most ambitious lineups in its history. What gives the season its deeper resonance, however, is Webb’s intentional return to works that helped shape the company’s identity, creating a thoughtful dialogue between past achievements and present momentum.
That sense of coming full circle begins with Wolfgang for Webb, created by Dominic Walsh for Webb’s very first season, now being performed in Program One. It continues with The Two Pigeons, the first Frederick Ashton ballet Webb brought to Sarasota, returning in Program Three. In Program Two, audiences will see Friday’s Child from Ashton’s Jazz Calendar, most recently performed during the company’s 2024 London tour. The season also revisits Lyric Pieces by resident choreographer Jessica Lang, first presented during the company’s second season—another nod to the early building blocks of Sarasota Ballet’s repertoire.
These returning works—many of them contemporary—are paired with new choreography and major premieres, reflecting a season carefully balanced between innovation and tradition. Contemporary voices share the stage with classical cornerstones like Romeo and Juliet, creating a dynamic interplay that defines Webb’s artistic vision and keeps the repertoire both grounded and forward-looking.
That foundation is especially meaningful here. The company only recently brought Sir Frederick Ashton’s 1955 full-length Romeo and Juliet to the stage—after its planned 2020 debut was delayed by the pandemic—and has now secured the rights to perform it in perpetuity. Its return in Program Six next March signals not just a highlight, but an enduring place in the repertoire and a lasting investment in the company’s classical legacy.
A standout addition is the company premiere of Mercuric Tidings by renowned choreographer Paul Taylor—a coup Webb has described as a “miraculous get.” The connection deepens in February 2027, when the Paul Taylor Dance Company returns as a guest for the first time since 2020, further underscoring Sarasota Ballet’s growing national and international presence.
When unveiling the season, Webb spoke candidly about the personal and artistic journey behind these choices—from his early years in Yorkshire to leading a company now firmly on the international stage. The result is a season that blends legacy with momentum.
“This next season is about family,” Webb said. “It’s about The Sarasota Ballet, and it’s about Sarasota itself.”