The Ballet on the Beach Dance Festival is a free outdoor professional dance performance on Assateague Island in Berlin, MD, that acts as a conduit to connect the community, environment and performing arts. This year, the event is scheduled for September 20 (with a rain date of September 21).
Audiences are invited to bring beach chairs to enjoy choreographies inspired by the natural world before sunset. In addition to professional performances, festival activities include eco talks, dance-related activities for children and a pointe shoe pavilion sponsored by Freed of London USA.
The 2025 Ballet on the Beach Dance Festival features performances by guest artists from the New York City-based Continuum Contemporary Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Washington Ballet, Janusphere Dance Company and Ballet Theatre of Maryland, among others.
Audience members will also learn about the history of the island, volunteer opportunities and the famous wild ponies in an environmental talk from Meghan Rhode, Assistant Park Manager of Assateague State Park, as well as an eco talk from University of Maryland Eastern Shore Professor, Dr. Madhumi Mitra, about her research of seaweeds in the local coastal bays.
“When you make your way over the bridge to the island, you feel like you enter into a different world where everything moves in harmony,” said Vanessa Salgado, Ballet on the Beach Founder. “On a normal day, you can see butterflies floating over the dunes, while waves roll and dolphins dive. You can hear the marsh grasses sway, ponies galloping and birds singing. Adding the art of dance to the mix is a joy for audiences to experience. We’re excited to present our third annual festival, a program that families across Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic and beyond have come to look forward to attending each year.”
The Ballet on the Beach Dance Festival is co-sponsored by Assateague State Park and the Maryland Park Service. The event is free and open to the public, with a parking cost of $5/vehicle. Pre-performance activities will begin at 4pm, followed by the performance from 5-6:30pm.
For more information, visit www.balletonthebeach.org.
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