World-Class Contemporary Dance Comes to St. Louis: Norbert De La Cruz III Creates New Work with Saint Louis Dance Theatre
We've all experienced those moments when words fail us—when joy, grief, connection, or longing feel too profound for language alone. This is precisely where contemporary dance finds its power. When you watch Saint Louis Dance Theatre perform, you witness universal human experiences translated into movement that speaks directly to the heart. Audiences have described the experience as feeling like, “the dancers breathed the life back into me." This spring, acclaimed Filipino-American choreographer Norbert De La Cruz III returns to St. Louis to create a new world premiere that promises to deliver this same emotional impact.
Norbert De La Cruz III
Filipino-American choreographer trained at The Juilliard School
Recipient of the Jerome Robbins Foundation's NEW Essential Works Grant
Winner of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA Award
Created works for Nashville Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Ballet X
Previous STLDT company premiere: Cloud 9 (2022)
A Dancer-Choreographer Collaboration
What sets De La Cruz's choreographic process apart is his emphasis on dancer collaboration. Rather than simply instructing performers on predetermined movements, he creates what he calls "an ecosystem where we're observing a world develop" together.
When working with professional dancers like those at STLDT, De La Cruz notes there's "a very strong understanding that we are here to create and manifest something that is very important to either me or to the collective." This collaborative approach allows the technical virtuosity of the company members to shine while adding emotional depth that resonates with audiences.
2022 Company Dancers performing Cloud 9 choreographed by Norbert De La Cruz III | Photo by: Pratt & Kreidich
The "Theatre" in St. Louis Dance Theatre
By creating space for dancers to share their unique viewpoints, De La Cruz's process creates performances that speak directly to audiences from all backgrounds. His previous work with STLDT, Cloud 9, explored "the strong bonds and connections we have with one another."
This is where the "theatre" in Saint Louis Dance Theatre truly shines. St. Louisans have enjoyed beloved arts institutions like The Muny, The Fox Theater, and the Saint Louis Opera Theatre for years, and will find a similar emotional power in STLDT's productions—just expressed through movement instead of word.
STLDT dancers produce performances with drama and emotion that can move audiences to laughter and tears, making contemporary dance as engaging and impactful as the theatrical experiences that have long been part of the city's rich cultural landscape.
World-Class Storytelling, Proudly STL Made
The dancers of Saint Louis Dance Theatre represent ideal collaborators for this approach. Selected from hundreds of candidates who audition for each coveted company position, these artists possess not only exceptional technical ability but profound emotional and creative insight.
Their rigorous dancing schedule—often exceeding 40 hours weekly between company rehearsals and teaching responsibilities—allows them to develop a relationship with movement that goes beyond mere execution. Like architects who understand complex calculations, these dancers comprehend the intricate physics, emotional subtleties, and the communicative potential of every move.
Experience a World Premiere in St. Louis
The premiere of De La Cruz's new work represents a significant cultural event for St. Louis, continuing STLDT's commitment to positioning the city as a nationally recognized arts destination.
When this world premiere takes the stage audiences will witness not just technical dance excellence, but a deeply collaborative creative process that represents contemporary dance at its most emotionally powerful.
QUICK FACTS:
(RE)Fine spring concert: Program B, featuring Norbert De La Cruz III world premiere
Dates: May 31-June 1, 2025 (Program B only)
Location: COCA's Catherine B. Berges Theatre
Pictured: Keenan Fletcher | Photo by Pratt & Kreidich
