Onco-Ballet's Community Performance

October 17, 2026

Irvine Barclay Theatre

The Onco-Ballet Foundation's mission is to provide low-to-no cost ballet classes and performance experiences to those in the cancer community to spark joy, facilitate healing, and foster self expression.

Since Onco-Ballet's founding in November 2023, we've reached more than 2,000 cancer patients, survivors, and thrivers through ballet movement classes. Those who participate consistently experience physical benefits — improved strength, balance, and range of motion — alongside meaningful relief from anxiety and depression. But the thread that runs deepest is community: a space where people facing similar hardships meet, support one another, and build relationships that extend well beyond our classes.

Each year we produce an Onco-Ballet Community Performance where every dollar raised helps us continue offering low- to no-cost classes and programming that make this possible.

THIS YEAR'S PERFORMANCE THEME: THE REALITIES OF SURVIVORSHIP

The world celebrates when treatment ends. The bell rings. Applause fills the hallway. But what happens next?

Survivorship is often spoken of as a finish line — but in reality, it is a complex and deeply personal chapter. Life after treatment can include physical recovery, long-term side effects, identity shifts, emotional healing, and the ongoing fear of recurrence. For members of the metastatic community, survivorship looks different still: living, thriving, and redefining stability while continuing treatment.

Survivorship is not the end of the story. It is where a new one begins.

This year, Onco-Ballet starts there.

THE PROGRAM

"The Healing Power of Touch" Choreographed by Masha Cherezova, re-staged by Christina Jones-Gorne
Educational Panel: The Realities of Survivorship
"The Space Between" Choreographed by Madison Morris **World Premiere**
"Relevé: To Rise" Choreographed by Aitana Jordan, re-staged by Kathryn Lung, premiered originally in New York City on May 2, 2026

All dance pieces feature dancers from our extraordinary cast of nearly 50 cancer patients, survivors, and thrivers — alongside professional dancers who have also faced cancer.

Thank you for your generous support!

2026 Onco-Ballet Community Performance - Irvine, CA

Bring joy to those in the cancer community by supporting a dancer in our upcoming performance!

Team Members