Lexington Ballet celebrates 50th anniversary with special guests Ben Sollee, Ada Limón

When Mia Isaac took over duties as CEO of the Lexington Ballet in 2023, plans began for the company’s 50th anniversary — a milestone event then two years away. That meant reaching out to collaborators with varying ties to the dance world. Some were choreographers and costumers, others were poets and musicians. Many from each camp were alumni of Lexington Ballet.

The latter was an association Isaac was especially keen on promoting for both personal and professional reasons. The personal ties began with herself. Isaac danced with the Ballet as a child before leadership roles landed her with such seemingly non-arts related organizations as Walt Disney Studios, the Boston Celtics and University of Kentucky Athletics.

The professional aspect centered on inviting Lexington Ballet alumni artists to join in this weekend’s 50th anniversary performances at the Opera House. Their involvement, she felt, would enhance the sense of community the company continues to champion through its work — a mission underscored in the title of the anniversary production: “Local Legacy.”

“I have spent my entire life being part of this community,” Isaac said. “You are building these connections. They make a full circle moment where you are calling upon your peers and your collaborators that are still very much a part of this community. A lot of alumni that have been with Lexington Ballet throughout their entire lives are back to be part of this very special intersection of dance and poetry and visual art and all of these individual, innovative works of art to blend into one dynamic experience.

“It is certainly a celebration of all of the talent that we have in the community. It is our innovative spirit that defines our future. So many people travel to see all of these different museums or to different performances in other cities. This is something where we’re bringing everything right here to the Opera House in one evening. This could really help introduce you to ballet in a way where you can become a fan for life and then maybe pass that experience on to your family and loved ones. We hope to introduce a new audience to ballet.”

“Local Legacy” will encompass dance pieces incorporating staging by Louisville Ballet artistic director Mikelle Bruzina, the songs of country/Christian singer Anne Wilson and the fashions of AREA founder Beckett Fogg (all Lexington Ballet alumni), as well as the choreography of Patrick Garr (Lexington native and veteran touring cast member of “Hamilton”), string quartet music from members of the Lexington Philharmonic, the visual art of Wylie Caudill (Lexington muralist and Cynthiana native) and the poetry of Ada Limón (author, Poet Laureate of the United States and Lexingtonian since 2011.)

Ben Sollee, however, will be especially visible during the anniversary shows. The Lexington-rooted cellist, composer and activist has worked in a variety of performing arts settings, not the least of which is the one highlighting his own music (songs from his newest album, “Long Haul” with be featured during a headline concert at The Burl on March 13.)

This weekend, he will be onstage as part of “Local Legacy.” Though Sollee has a dance background that began while attending the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA), his performance contributions with the Ballet will stick to the cello.

“This show is called ‘Local Legacy,’ so I guess that’s why I got roped in,” Sollee said. “Because I’m local and I’m slowly becoming legacy. We are teaming up for a set of my original songs that will have brand new choreography set by (Lexington Ballet artistic director) Eric Trope. Then we are premiering a new piece, a collaboration with Ada Limón on some of her poetry that I have scored and done sound design for.

“We have all these different contributors. We’ve got, obviously, Ada’s poetry, which is lovely. We have the dance choreography. We have these beautiful dancers and movers. And, then, of course, we’ve got music. For me, it is very much a process of beginning with the poetry and then scoring around it. That lets me pick out some of the imagery from the poetry and use it as a prompt to create some interstitial music that gets us to the next poem. In that way, it’s not too different from podcast scoring I’ve done, where I’ve created music for these longform audio documentaries where you need to support the words. I see my role here as creating a space to really internalize the words that Ada has written.”

Outside of “Local Legacy,” the Ballet’s 50th anniversary fits neatly into another high-profile milestone — the 250th anniversary of Lexington’s founding.

For that, Isaac has plans this summer to take company members to stages far beyond the Opera House. Specifically, the Ballet will present performances in Lexington’s oldest sister city — Deauville, France. The company previously participated in a performance exchange with Deauville in 1995.

“That is something that I’m really proud of,” Isaac said. “We perform in Deauville on June 15, but go over the week before for rehearsals. Their company will perform here in 2026 for Bastille Day.

“All of our sister cities have a performance exchange. If we can do this for the arts, this will open a door for not only dancers, but choreographers and artistic directors. It will really, I believe, elevate the arts — not just for dance, but for orchestras, for artists. I believe this can be an exchange program for all the performing arts.”

For now, the anniversary at hand is the Ballet’s own. For arts organizations to exist and thrive through a half century of work isn’t simply a cause for celebration. It’s a testament to survival.

“I’m honored to be part of it,” Sollee said. “As someone who didn’t really have an historical background with the Lexington Ballet (although he collaborated with the company for its “Love Stories” program in 2024), I’m really honored to play a role to help them celebrate. But we’re also shining a light on the affection, the blood, sweat and tears it takes to keep a company of any performing arts alive right now and, hopefully, creating an appreciation for the audience and the greater community of just how important the arts are — not just for expression and culture, but for public health.

“I really feel as we continue to navigate what some people call ‘The Epidemic of Loneliness,’ a lack of belonging, the arts have a very important role. They create that sense of connection and togetherness that communities need in order to be cohesive and have an identity. Hopefully, to help people fight off despair and loneliness.

“There is no prescription a doctor can write for that. Hopefully, sometime in the future, doctors will be able to write a prescription saying ‘Go see the ballet.’ Because it really can have a huge impact on someone’s well being.”

Local Legacy – Celebrating 50 Years of Lexington Ballet

When: Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 22 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Where: Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short

Tickets: $24.25-$50 at ticketmaster.com