Alchemy Ballet Presents 'Minkus to Mingus' at Capital One Hall in March

A weekend of ballet with a jazz pulse is headed to Capital One Hall this spring, as Alchemy Ballet presents “Minkus to Mingus: Classical to Contemporary Ballet and Jazz” in the intimate setting of The Vault. Running March 13–14, 2026, the program promises a sweeping, genre-spanning evening that moves from the grandeur of 19th-century classical ballet to the expressive freedom of jazz and contemporary choreography.

Minkus to Mingus presented by Alchemy Ballet at Capital One Hall

Presented by Artists in Motion (doing business as Alchemy Ballet), “Minkus to Mingus” is designed as a journey across musical traditions and dance styles—blending classical ballet, neoclassical works, and contemporary pieces set to a wide-ranging soundtrack that includes ballet composer Ludwig Minkus and jazz innovator Charles Mingus, alongside iconic voices from soul and popular music.

At the heart of the program is a world premiere by Lorraine Spiegler and Luis Serrano, set to Mingus’s solo piano work “Orange Was the Color of Her Dress.” The piece will be performed by Alchemy Trainee Abigail Walker alongside guest artist Matthew McLaughlin—formerly of Mark Morris Dance Company and currently with Lucinda Childs—and explores the emotional nuance of Mingus’s music through the athletic precision of contemporary ballet.

The weekend also nods to American songbook legends in ways that feel tailor-made for a company interested in crossing stylistic borders. Highlights include choreography by Rob Priore set to Aretha Franklin’s celebrated recording of “Say a Little Prayer” (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), plus a collage honoring Roberta Flack that includes “Killing Me Softly” (choreographed by Adrienne Canterna) and “Trying Times” (choreographed by Jessica Brown). The combined effect is a program that moves fluidly between eras—classical lines, jazz phrasing, and contemporary storytelling—while spotlighting resilience and hope.

Performances are scheduled for Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (doors open one hour before showtime). A special pre-show fundraising reception is also planned for Saturday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m.