Community Tickets
SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE TICKETS TO APPALACHIAN PHOENIX!
aNNOUNCING AN EVENING OF BEAUTY AND RESILIENCE through the art of dance
Signing up is a requirement to access and use the community tickets. There will be no community tickets available for those who show up to a show without having signed up.
Appalachian Phoenix: A Community-Driven Celebration of Resilience
Terpsicorps’ world premiere of Appalachian Phoenix is more than a performance—it’s a testament to the strength, creativity, and unity of Western North Carolina. This powerful new work transforms real stories of kindness and perseverance in the wake of Hurricane Helene into breathtaking movement, music, and design.
A Performance Created by and for the Community
🔥 Stories That Inspire – Our world-class dancers bring to life the true stories of local heroes, nominated by their communities. Their acts of kindness and courage shape the choreography, making Appalachian Phoenix a deeply personal and meaningful experience. Know someone who made a difference? You can still nominate a hero!
🌎 Art Built from Community Effort –
The Rising Phoenix Sculpture – Designed by artists Sara Sanders and Chas Llewellyn, this breathtaking installation is built from plastic water bottles collected by local schools, businesses, and individuals affected by the storm. The STEAM Studio and SkillSet at UNCA, along with local volunteers and summer camp students will help bring the sculpture to life, weaving the names and stories of WNC heroes into its wings.
A Transformative Set – 13,000 bottles, recovered in the aftermath of the storm, will form a stunning, illuminated backdrop evoking Appalachian landscapes. These materials, once debris, now stand as a testament to renewal and environmental responsibility.
🎶 A Score Rooted in Community – Created by critically acclaimed WNC musicians River Guerguerian and Chris Rosser of Free Planet Radio, alongside composer Jeff Schmitt of Saint Disruption, this original score additionally features Madelyn Ilana on violin and the powerful vocals of Datrian Johnson. Reflecting the many voices and influences that shape WNC today, the music blends past and present, creating a sound as dynamic and diverse as the region itself.
🏆 Honoring Local Heroes – Each Asheville performance will pay an in person tribute to individuals whose strength and generosity helped their neighbors rebuild. Their stories will not only be brought to life through dance but will also be documented in a collection of poetry.
🌱 A Commitment to Sustainability – With a set, costumes, and props made from repurposed materials, Appalachian Phoenix highlights the power of transformation. In partnership with Asheville GreenWorks, we’re raising awareness about environmental stewardship and community action. GreenWorks will be in the lobby to share their mission, offer resources on sustainability, and inspire audiences to take action in their own communities.
🩰 PLUS!!! – The evening also features some of Terpsicorps’ most beloved comedic and inspirational works, promising an unforgettable blend of artistry, heart, and humor. ⬇️
AYT? (Are You There?) – A hilarious technological love story about our co-dependent relationship with cell phones.
Le Suil Go... (In the Hope That…) – A vibrant and athletic tour de force that showcases the strength and artistry of the Terpsicorps dancers, set to lively, rhythmic Celtic music that pulses with irresistible energy.
The Date – A laugh-out-loud romp through a ridiculously disastrous romantic encounter, told through a wildly entertaining and increasingly inebriated tango.
Senza Fretta (Without Worry) - A high energy tour de force duet by the late master choreographer, Salvatore Aiello (creator of last season’s showstopper, SATTO). In Aiello’s words, Senza Fretta is “A whimsical encounter which brings forth a simpatico friendship.”
What is Terpsicorps?
A group of diversely exceptional professional dance artists from across the US and beyond, converging in NC every summer to bring highly entertaining and strikingly thought provoking works of contemporary ballet dance theater to the communities of Asheville and Winston-Salem.