Bugge Ballet

Bugg� Ballet is a critically acclaimed ballet company based in New York City and led by founding artistic director Nicole Bugg�. Bugg� Ballet’s vision is to be a modern-day storyteller exploring human behavior though contemporary ballet. The company seeks to create universally appreciated works that inspire, delight, and engage our audiences through captivating movement. The company has been featured on PBS in WHYY’s Friday Arts series as a winner in Rider University’s inaugural Emerging Choreographers Competition. Bugg� Ballet debuted internationally in 2014 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of Booking Dance Festival and received standing ovations for their delightful world premiere. The company also presented commissioned works at Lincoln Center and with One World Symphony in New York City. Bugg� Ballet toured in Richmond, Virginia and La Plata, Maryland. The company has been part of the curated NuDance festival in Harlem, New York in addition to performing at Bryant Park, Greenspace, Spectrum, the FAB! Festival, and at Dixon Place in New York City.

Artistic Director Nicole Bugg� holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree in dance from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Choreography with a concentration in performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. Nicole performed with Richmond Ballet in such works as Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Rubies, and Serenade, as well as with many notable companies in New York City including Exit 12 Dance Company, Neville Dance Theatre, Classical Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Charles Weidman Dance Foundation, and in original works by Deborah Jowitt, Cherylyn Lavagnino, and Sydney Skybetter. Internationally, Nicole also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy where she presented her choreography. As artistic director of Bugg� Ballet Nicole is the primary choreographer for the company.

Touring Programs

Mixed repertory with 7-9 dancers

Tightrope: Tightrope tells the story of four women’s journeys through the ups and downs of an American southern fair season. Clad in sneakers and ballet buns these modern, yet free spirited women express their southern sweetheart flair through an engaging blend of contemporary and traditional ballet.

Rosa Encadenada: Rosa Encadenada tells the story of a conflicted woman. Feeling imprisoned as an upscale escort, money comes easy but happiness is hard to find. Arranged with a Spanish flair.

Fascination: Flashing back to the glamour of the 1950s, the audience is transported into the world of two lovers. Stumbling through the basic waltz, the viewers are delighted witnesses to the awkwardness of a new relationship. Peeking into different windows of life as time passes by.

Forest of Mirrors: Forest of Mirrors is a surrealistic dreamscape following a young woman through her journey to find a more idealized version of herself. Choreographer Nicole Bugg� explores this theme through free flowing organic movement in a constantly shifting forest of dancers where the young woman sees an idealized version of herself peaking through the trees.

A glezele vayn: Inspired by the rhythmic music of The Klezmatics, this original dance integrates traditional folk motives with the choreographer’s knowledge of classical ballet. Featuring nine dancers, each performer’s relationship with the others is carefully chosen to demonstrate many aspects of life.

Viscountessa?: Struggling with the confines of what it means to be female in the Baroque era, five women search within themselves to find acceptance or rebellion. Clad in dark restricting hoop skirts and large collars, the women navigate complex contemporary choreography en pointe as one dancer finds the strength to be free.