Charlotte Ballet is bringing a bit of South Africa back to Uptown this fall, reviving choreographer Mthuthuzeli November’s “From Africa With Love” as the centerpiece of its Black Box Series, running October 2 through October 17. The piece, inspired in part by the ostriches November encountered across Africa, folds animal-inspired speed and movement into a work that first premiered with the company in 2023.
According to Queen City News, November — described as a world-renowned South African choreographer — drew on ostrich speed and other animal elements when building the piece, which Charlotte Ballet is featuring again as part of this season’s Black Box Series lineup. The outlet’s report, written by Liza Mahachek for its Positively Charlotte section, also notes that Charlotte Ballet provides information and tickets for the series through its own website.
A Choreographer With Deep Company Ties
November’s connection to Charlotte Ballet runs deeper than a single piece. He was named the company’s Resident Choreographer in September 2025 by Artistic Director Alejandro Cerrudo, formalizing a relationship that began when November created “From Africa With Love” specifically for the troupe in 2023, according to Ballet Herald. That 2023 debut arrived during the company’s season-opening “Breaking Boundaries” series, where local critics at The Charlotte Ledger praised its serene tone and wildlife-inspired movement.
November’s résumé stretches well beyond Charlotte. Per the Royal Opera House, he won the 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production for “INGOMA” with Ballet Black, and followed that with the 2023 Black British Theatre Award for Best Choreography for “Nina: By Whatever Means.” As Resident Choreographer, he now also teaches masterclasses at the Charlotte Ballet Academy and contributes to repertoire planning, according to Ballet Herald.
Cerrudo’s Own Work Rounds Out the Bill
Sharing the Black Box Series program is “Dos y Dos y Dos,” which Queen City News identifies as the first work Cerrudo created for Charlotte Ballet after taking over as artistic director. The touchless contemporary piece, which originally premiered in March 2025, is built around subtle physical interactions between couples and is set to music by Marek Hunhap, Jean-Michel Blais, and Frédéric Chopin, per Art on My Sleeve.
Cerrudo took the reins at Charlotte Ballet in 2022, arriving with an already established choreographic pedigree. He served as the first-ever resident choreographer for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago from 2008 to 2018, then held the same role at Pacific Northwest Ballet from 2020 to 2023, according to Pacific Northwest Ballet. In comments to Queen City News, Cerrudo discussed how “From Africa With Love” challenges his performers while creating a striking visual experience for audiences.
A World Premiere Rounds Out the Lineup
The series also introduces something entirely new: the world premiere of “Phoenix,” created by the German-American choreographic duo FLOCK — Alice Klock and Florian Lochner. The piece centers on themes of storytelling and resilience, exploring humanity’s enduring relationship with mythology, according to WFAE 90.7.
Together, the three works form a mixed bill that puts Charlotte Ballet’s contemporary identity on full display, spanning a revived South African-inspired piece, a touchless duet set to Chopin, and a brand-new creation making its debut on the company’s home turf.
An Intimate Venue With a Long History
The Black Box Series unfolds inside the 200-seat theater at the Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance, an Uptown Charlotte facility that opened in June 2010, per the Arts Consulting Group. The center doubles as Charlotte Ballet’s administrative headquarters and rehearsal space, offering a far more intimate setting than the company’s larger productions at the Knight Theater and Belk Theater.
Charlotte Ballet itself has deep North Carolina roots. Founded in 1970 by Robert Lindgren as the North Carolina Dance Theatre in Winston-Salem, the company relocated to Charlotte in 1990 and rebranded as Charlotte Ballet in 2014, according to Pointe Magazine. Former New York City Ballet stars Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride led the company beginning in 1996. Today the company maintains a core roster of 26 professional dancers and regularly tours contemporary programs — including works by both November and Cerrudo — to venues like Playhouse Square in Cleveland.
Tickets and Pricing
Tickets for the October Black Box Series start at $30 including taxes and fees, with Blumenthal Arts offering group discounts of up to 20% for parties of 20 or more. Charlotte Ballet is directing patrons to its own website for full scheduling and ticketing information.
