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PROJECT DETAILS

CHOREOGRAPHER:  Roman Mykyta


COMPOSER:  Ottorino Respighi


PREMIERE:  February 21, 2025 | Momentum, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD | Performed by The Ballet Theatre of Maryland


CAST:  16 Women, 6 Men


RUN TIME:  32 minutes

SYNOPSIS:

Elizabeth is a dramatic historical ballet inspired by the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first person born in the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Created to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of her canonization, the ballet explores the extraordinary compassion and quiet strength that defined her life and legacy.


Framed through Mother Seton’s encounter with a young woman devastated by betrayal and heartbreak, the ballet interweaves Elizabeth’s own journey of love, profound loss, unwavering faith, and enduring hope. As past and present unfold through dance, her example becomes a source of healing, revealing how suffering, embraced with grace, can inspire courage, joy, and renewal in the lives of others.

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON

Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821) became the first person born in the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Founder of the Sisters of Charity in America, educator, wife, mother, and widow, her life continues to inspire generations.

BACKGROUND & INSPIRATION

HEALING THROUGH STORY

Rather than presenting a chronological biography, the ballet imagines Mother Seton comforting a heartbroken young woman by sharing the joys and sorrows of her own life.

THE ROSSETTI INFLUENCE

The visual world of Elizabeth draws inspiration from the Pre-Raphaelite artists, particularly Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his unfinished painting Found. Fanny Cornforth is preserved symbolically to honor the artistic legacy that helped shape the ballet’s imagery.

VIDEO SAMPLE
PHOTO GALLERY

© 2025 by Roman Mykyta

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