Jorma Elo's Slice to Sharp is an energetic, technically demanding ballet that showcases Elo's signature choreographic style - fast-paced, intricate and always musically driven. The work is set to music by Baroque composers Antonio Vivaldi and Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, creating a striking contrast between classical elegance and Elo's contemporary movement vocabulary. Visually, Slice to Sharp is sleek and modern, with Holly Hynes' minimalist costumes allowing movement to take centre stage.

The ballet is a whirlwind of rapid footwork, unexpected changes of direction and fluid yet angular movements that keep the dancers in a state of perpetual motion. Elo plays with asymmetry and off-balance extensions, pushing the boundaries of classical technique while maintaining a strong sense of musicality. Developing a distinctive style that is both innovative and yet rooted in the traditions of ballet Elo's work often exudes a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability.

Since its premiere for the New York City Ballet in 2006, which featured an all-star cast the who-is-who of principal dancers from that time, Slice to Sharp has been added to the repertoire of the Boston Ballet, the Tulsa Ballet, the Stanislavsky Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet. The ballet also won Elo the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse for Best Choreography in 2010.

ABOUT JORMA ELO
Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo is one of the most sought-after figures in the dance world and has created over 60 works for renowned companies worldwide. After his dancing career with the Finnish National Ballet, the Cullberg Ballet, and the Netherlands Dance Theater, he devoted himself entirely to choreography. He has been Resident Choreographer of the Boston Ballet since 2005 and was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland, one of Finland's highest honors, in 2015.

World premiere on June 16, 2006, as part of the New York City Ballet's 2006 Diamond Project at the New York State Theater

First performance on November 9, 2025, as part of a matinee by the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung at Munich's National Theater