Saint Louis Dance Theatre Opens 15th Anniversary Love Languages Season with Fall Series
November 14-16, 2025 | World Premieres by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Kirven Douthit-Boyd
Photo of Jada Vaughan at 21C Museum Hotel St. Louis
ST. LOUIS, MO (Oct. 1, 2025) — Saint Louis Dance Theatre (STLDT) launches its 15th anniversary Love Languages season presented by Paul and Kathleen Matecki with the Fall Series. This celebratory weekend includes four performances with two world premieres: a new work by STLDT Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd and Grassville by internationally acclaimed choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, which debuts during the company’s annual Movers & Shakers Ball on Nov. 15. Performances run Nov. 14-16, 2025, at COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre.
Belgian-Colombian choreographer Lopez Ochoa, whose works have been performed by New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet, creates her first world premiere with STLDT and her first in St. Louis with Grassville. This surreal and theatrical work conjures a magnetic, playfully strange world, featuring elaborate plant-inspired headpieces designed by veteran costumer Mark Zappone, known for his ‘architecture in motion’ designs.
“The headpieces set the rules; the choreography bends around them with bold, Vogue-like poses inspired by fashion and Salvador Dalí,” says Lopez Ochoa.
Alongside this milestone, Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd premieres his latest creation, continuing his exploration of human connection through movement. A former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Douthit-Boyd blends contemporary technique with bold passion, exploring the depths of emotion that have defined his choreographic voice since becoming STLDT’s artistic leader in 2022.
"Dance is the physical manifestation of emotions—the key attribute of refined storytelling," Douthit-Boyd shares. "Opening our Love Languages season with these two world premieres during the company’s crystal anniversary demonstrates our commitment to movement as a universal language."
Fall Series Performances:
At COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre, St. Louis, MO
Fri, Nov. 14 | 7:30 p.m. — World premiere by Kirven Douthit-Boyd
Sat, Nov. 15 | 7:30 p.m. — World premiere of Grassville by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (during Movers & Shakers Ball: Cristal Anniversary)
Sun, Nov. 16 | 2:00 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 16 | 7:30 p.m.
General admission starts at $35; student tickets are $20. All tickets and season subscriptions available at stldancetheatre.org.
Youth Access Program tickets are available for qualifying youth programs. Visit stldancetheatre.org/yap for details.
Fall Series Events & Engagements:
Behind the Curtains Showcase & Reception — Oct. 29, 2025, 3–5 p.m., COCA. Live rehearsal of Grassville with Q&A and reception. Subscribers and media invited; limited public tickets available. For details, visit: stldancetheatre.org/btc.
The Language of Art Artist Panel — Nov. 4, 2025, 6–8 p.m., 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis. Free, public panel discussion with Fall Series artists. For details, visit: stldancetheatre.org/21c.
Movers & Shakers Ball: Cristal Anniversary — Nov. 15, 2025. Gala celebration with dinner, the premiere of Grassville, dessert, and DJ after-party. Co-chaired by Maria and Gene Dobbs Bradford, Suzanne and Roger Johnson, and Andrea and Jason Slavik. For Ball details, visit stldancetheatre.org/ball.
Special Offers:
Community Night: Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., “pay-what-you-wish” pricing. For details, visit: stldancetheatre.org/community-concerts.
Kids Circle: Nov. 16, 2:00 p.m. matinee. Children ages 3–8 enjoy arts activities plus a performance excerpt. $25 per child; sibling discounts available. For details, visit: stldancetheatre.org/kids-circle.
21c Museum Hotel St. Louis: As our season's hospitality partner, 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis offers STLDT patrons discounts on overnight stays, depending on nightly rates. For details, visit: stldancetheatre.org/21c.