Summer 2026
The ballet jukebox is stocked with some of classical music’s greatest hits, from The Nutcracker’s catchy themes to the sweeping melodies of Swan Lake. At this year’s Festival Napa Valley Dance Gala, under the artistic direction of Melanie Hamrick, Live Arts Global will expand ballet’s repertoire with a playlist that ranges from Tchaikovsky to The Rolling Stones, and choreography that’s both thrilling to watch and a joy for the artists to dance.
“I want everyone in the audience to say, ‘I didn’t expect that!’” says Hamrick. A former soloist at the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre, Hamrick co-founded the nonprofit Live Arts Global in 2020 with ABT principal dancer Christine Shevchenko and freelance dancer Joanna Felice, who brings a fun, modern approach from her work with Peridance and Debbie Allen. “We use contemporary music and we always have something set to The Rolling Stones. We’ll also do excerpts from Don Quixote. You’re getting a taste of everything.”
Since their first show in December 2020, Live Arts Global has staged performances with marquee dancers from the nation’s premiere companies and commissioned works from noted choreographers. They made their Festival Napa Valley debut in 2022 and return this year with an equally wide-ranging program. In addition to duets from beloved classical ballets, the artists will perform pieces set to popular music as well as world premieres.
The trio also wants to serve as role models for women’s initiatives in the dance world, where performing careers are short and leadership positions are scarce. When Hamrick retired after 15 years at ABT, she forged new paths as a choreographer, producer, and author, with two novels to her name. “With writing, you’re creating the narrative, you’re telling the story,” she says. “Choreographing is doing that with bodies instead of words.”
Having grown up immersed in dance and the arts, Hamrick, Shevchenko, and Felice also share the Festival’s mission to support early arts education. “I wanted to be the ballerina, and I loved to play with my older sister’s pointe shoes,” Hamrick recalls. “It’s extremely important to get that at a young age, in a creative way.” She and Felice are mothers as well, so they are attuned to the value of the arts for young people. “Our program is curated for all ages,” she says. “I want everyone to come and be excited about what they see on stage. They can see what the future is.”