Grange Festival 2026 celebrates 25 years of Ballet Black
Ground-breaking UK ballet company returns to Hampshire’s popular country house opera festival at the end of a nationwide tour.
Celebrating a quarter-century of artistic innovation, diversity and bold storytelling, the pioneering UK ballet company, Ballet Black, founded by Cassa Pancho OBE, marks its 25th anniversary with a special season on 8 and 9 July 2026 at the The Grange Festival.
Two striking works which embody the vision and evolution of Ballet Black make up the powerful programme, which is also part of a national tour by the company.
Ingoma (2019) is the award-winning choreographic debut of former company dancer Mthuthuzeli November. Inspired by the 1946 South African miners’ strike - a pivotal moment ahead of the anti-apartheid movement. The work received the Olivier Award and the Black British Theatre Award for Best Dance Production.
Ballet Black will also perform a specially commissioned new work ….all towards hope. by Hope Boykin, the celebrated Alvin Ailey star and two-time Bessie Award-winning choreographer. Boykin’s creation for Ballet Black’s 25th anniversary draws from her lived experiences, infusing the programme with celebration, warmth and a vibrant tribute to the company’s journey and future artistic ambitions.
Ballet Black Founder and Artistic Director Cassa Pancho says, ‘We are excited to be returning to The Grange Festival this summer as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations. In our latest bill, you will see something great from our past; the Black British Theatre and Olivier Award winning, Ingoma, created by Mthuthuzeli November in 2019, and something equally great but very different, ...all towards hope. from Alvin Ailey royalty, Hope Boykin, which looks towards our future. This diversity of repertoire is what I consider to be one of the strengths of Ballet Black: no two ballets are alike, whether the subject is serial killers, African ancestry or the state of the world today, I hope we will always put on a show that makes you think, feel and want to return again and again.’
Since its inception in 2001, Ballet Black has reshaped the landscape of British ballet by championing dancers of Black and Asian descent and commissioning more than 70 original works that reflect diverse cultural narratives and contemporary perspectives. The company’s ethos “Change Not Trend” continues to resonate on stages across the UK and internationally, inspiring new generations of artists and audiences alike.
Grange Festival Chief Executive Tyler Stoops says, ‘Our audiences at The Grange Festival have always responded to what Ballet Black bring — exceptional dancers telling stories that genuinely matter. In 2025 the performance sold out, so we've added a second night this year. Their 25th anniversary programme pairs an Olivier Award-winner with a brand new work and that's a very special thing to have on our stage.’
Performances at The Grange Festival come at the end of a national tour, full details here https://balletblack.co.uk/performances.
ENDS
Performance Details:
Ballet Black at The Grange Festival 2026
8 & 9 July 2026
The Grange, Northington, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9TZ
Tickets are available via The Grange Festival.
Full 25th anniversary UK tour details here https://balletblack.co.uk/performances/