Appalachian Phoenix: A Celebration of Community, Resilience, and Hope

Resilience. Hope. Celebration. Experience a transformative evening where world class dance, art, and community come together to honor the heroes of Hurricane Helene and inspire renewal. This vibrant performance features breathtaking choreography, stunning visuals crafted from reclaimed materials, and stories of selflessness and unity — a powerful reminder that from adversity, a new strength, like a phoenix, can rise.

Join this critically acclaimed contemporary ballet company for an unforgettable evening that blends stunning dance, breathtaking visuals, and stories of heroism inspired by the Western NC community's recovery from Hurricane Helene.

Choreographer Heather Maloy’s latest work, Appalachian Phoenix, pairs Terpsicorps' exceptional dancers — handpicked from some of the nation’s finest professional companies — with WNC artists and musicians. Together, they bring to life a powerful story of hope, unity, and transformation in the face of disaster.

Experience More Than a Performance

• Be Inspired by Heroic Stories: True stories of community heroes from WNC, shared by the neighbors they helped, will be woven into the very fabric of the choreography, influencing every movement and creating a powerful narrative of renewal and recovery.

• Rising Phoenix Sculpture: You will be greeted in the lobby by a soaring phoenix, created by WNC artists from 6,000 reclaimed water bottles, symbolizing their community’s rebirth. The bottles, collected by schools, businesses, and individuals affected by the storm, not only symbolize their own significant environmental impact but also serve as a poignant reminder of the waste and debris left in the storm’s wake.

• Incredible Visuals: A monumental backdrop made from an additional 6,000 of these reclaimed bottles will be lit to evoke Appalachian sunrises, waterfalls, and mountain vistas, immersing audiences in the beauty of the region’s natural environment.

• Get Involved: Click here if you know a story about a hero who helped WNC in the aftermath of Helene. The story will inspire the choreography, and a printed version will be incorporated into the Rising Phoenix sculpture. If selected, your hero will receive two free tickets to attend a performance in either city.

• Enhance Your Experience with a VIP Ticket: Join choreographer Heather Maloy for an exclusive pre-show chat and champagne toast, held in the theater as the dancers warm up on stage. Gain unique insight into the choreographic process, Heather’s artistic vision, and how she discovers Terpsicorps’ exceptional dancers. PLUS… enjoy early access and first choice of seating for the performance!

PLUS: Terpsicorps favorites you won’t want to miss!

• 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 hilariously disastrous romantic encounter, told through a wildly entertaining and increasingly inebriated tango.