Cincinnati Ballet to Present LIVE! at Music Hall

The program features three new ballet works debuting on November 6 and 7 in Cincinnati.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Dance

Abstract graphic poster illustration depicting stage architecture and musical silhouettes, representing a collaborative ballet production. — The Cincinnati Ballet will premiere three new works featuring a unique collaboration with Over the Rhine and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Music Hall. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Cincinnati Ballet will present the program LIVE! on November 6-7, 2026, at Music Hall. This production includes three world premiere ballet works set to the music of the band Over the Rhine.

Why it matters

The performance represents the third collaboration between the Cincinnati Ballet and Over the Rhine. It brings together local musicians and dance artists for a unique staging where the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra joins performers directly onstage.

Over the Rhine has released 15 studio albums since their formation in 1989. The upcoming program features one piece titled Trouble that incorporates six distinct songs from the band.

The players

Cincinnati Ballet

This professional ballet company serves as a cultural institution in the region and is currently producing the LIVE! program.

Over the Rhine

The band consists of Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist and has released 15 studio albums.

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

This professional orchestra is performing live onstage with the dancers for this production.

Young Soon Hue

She is one of three choreographers who created new works for this specific program.

Alyssa Wang

She serves as the Cincinnati Ballet Music Director for this collaborative project.

The details

Choreographers Young Soon Hue, David Morse, and Kenneth Tindall created the three world premiere works inspired by the discography of Over the Rhine. The production is notable for moving the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from the pit to the stage alongside the band and dancers.

1989: Over the Rhine formed.
2011: First collaboration occurred between the band and Cincinnati Ballet.
2014: Band performed for the Cincinnati Ballet 50th anniversary season.
November 6-7, 2026: Cincinnati Ballet presents LIVE! at Music Hall.

Industry Dynamics

This performance follows a pattern set by the previous 2014 collaboration, marking the third such artistic partnership between these entities. Such integrated programs illustrate a trend of cross-genre cooperation between regional dance companies and local musical artists.

Attendees can view the production at Music Hall on November 6 and 7. The unique stage configuration places the orchestra directly with the dancers, offering a different visual and acoustic experience than traditional pit performances.

The takeaway

Collaborative performances allow local artists to reinterpret music through movement and new choreography. Audience members attending the show can experience how the distinct sound of Over the Rhine is translated into three unique ballet works.