Under the Open Sky: The Washington Ballet Dances at CityCenterDC
by CeCe Cogar
A free fall performance that felt like a season teaser
On Friday, September 26, 2025, The Washington Ballet (TWB) brought pointe shoes and big-city sparkle to The Plaza at CityCenterDC for a free outdoor program—part of the company’s Dance For All series. The pop-up mixed classic pas de deux with fresh contemporary bites and even unveiled a new pas de deux by Artistic Director Edwaard Liang, making its DC debut especially for the plaza crowd. Seating was first-come, first-served; the vibe was festival-meets-high-art and 100% DC chic.
The Program: Ballet candy, al fresco
TWB curated a crowd-pleasing sampler that doubled as a sneak peek of the 2025–26 season. Highlights included:
A Liang-choreographed pas de deux (DC debut)—sleek, musical, and tailor-made for the plaza stage.
Excerpts from last year’s subterranean hit “Dance For All @ Dupont Underground”,with music by Emmy Award-winning composer Blake Neely—proof that TWB’s cross-disciplinary collaborations hum as well outdoors as they do 30 feet below street level.
Meet the Artistic Director: Edwaard Liang
A globally sought-after dancemaker and former BalletMet director, Edwaard Liang took the reins at TWB in 2024. Under his watch, the company’s mix of classical backbone and contemporary curiosity has sharpened—and the CityCenterDC pas de deux spotlighted his signature clarity and musicality.
TWB Artistic Director Edwaard Liang
"This year, we're digging deeper and embracing the raw energy of who we are at The Washington Ballet. We're going beyond presenting dance; we're creating a living dialogue with our community. We want gasps, tears, and the kind of reaction that leaves you breathless,” said Edwaard Liang, Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet. “We're striving for authenticity: performances that are personal, relevant, and real. This season every show will feature students from The Washington School of Ballet alongside our professional dancers—reaffirming our commitment to both world-class, professional performance and dance education."
Dancers to Watch
TWB’s roster blends veteran star power with rising talent. A few standouts the plaza audience may have clocked:
Ashley Murphy-Wilson Joined TWB in 2015 after 13 seasons with Dance Theatre of Harlem. She’s also the first Black woman at TWB to dance Giselle—and a magnetic stage presence in everything from neoclassical to narrative works.
Andile Ndlovu The Johannesburg-born artist is in his tenth season with TWB; he began in Latin and ballroom before switching to ballet as a teen, a background you feel in his attack and musicality.
Maki Onuki A beloved mainstay who recently marked her 20th season with the company, admired for crystalline technique and artistry that reads beautifully in intimate and large-scale venues.
Ashley Murphy-Wilson and Oscar Sanchez
Dance For All @ CityCenterDC
Why CityCenterDC mattered
Programming this free performance outdoors wasn’t just a pretty backdrop—it was a statement about TWB’s community reach and the way the company is previewing its season in public, meeting new audiences where they already are. CityCenterDC’s plaza provided sightlines, foot-traffic buzz, and a stylish frame for the art—exactly the kind of civic-minded stage TWB keeps claiming across the District.
The Takeaway
Under Liang, TWB is moving with purpose—polish without snobbery, virtuosity without walls. If the CityCenterDC set was your first taste, the 2025–26 season looks poised to deliver the full course.
The School behind the stage: TWSB
Before there was a company, there was a school. The Washington School of Ballet was founded in 1944 by Mary Day (with teacher Lisa Gardiner), later giving rise to the professional company in 1976. Today, TWSB trains dancers ages 3.5–18, runs pre-professional tracks, and offers adult open classes, feeding TWB’s stages and the broader DC dance ecosystem.
Where They Train:
NW Campus (Main Building: 3515 Wisconsin Ave NW), with additional studios along Wisconsin Ave;
SE Campus at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Ave SE), anchoring TWB’s long-standing commitment east of the river.
