The familiar notes of Queen’s iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody” echo through the studio as dancers leap, lunge, and spin with unexpected intensity. I’m standing at the front of the rehearsal room of Virginia National Ballet’s rehearsal space, watching a rock masterpiece transform into classical movement before my eyes. This is no ordinary ballet rehearsal, and what’s coming to the stage is certainly no ordinary performance.

A Triple Bill of Transformation

Virginia National Ballet’s upcoming production dissolves boundaries with an ambitious triple bill showcasing their versatility and technical prowess. Back by popular demand, “Bohemian Rhapsody” returns after its 2017 debut, joined by the revival of “Tango Nights,” a sophisticated ballet set to Astor Piazzolla’s music, and “Moonlight Sonata,” a beautiful world premiere by Artistic Director Rafik Hegab.

“We wanted to create something that honors both Queen’s revolutionary spirit and ballet’s timeless grace,” explains Elysabeth Muscat, Founder of Virginia National Ballet. “But this program goes further—it demonstrates our dancers’ ability to completely reinvent themselves across different musical worlds in a single evening,” she adds.

When Rock Meets Ballet: “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Returning after its acclaimed 2017 debut, “Bohemian Rhapsody” stands as the Virginia National Ballet’s most audacious offering. This enhanced production captures Mercury’s vocal journey with stunning fidelity—dancers physically transform as the music shifts from tender ballad to operatic crescendo to hard rock intensity. The masterful blend of classical ballet storytelling with rock-inspired movement creates a visual symphony that reveals entirely new dimensions in Queen’s familiar anthem.

“Just as the song shifts from ballad to operatic drama to hard rock, our dancers embody these transitions physically. It’s not just about dancing to music; it’s about becoming the music’s physical manifestation,” explained Muscat.

I’ve heard “Bohemian Rhapsody” hundreds of times, but never like this. The music crashes through the studio as the dancers respond, and in these fleeting moments, I witness the perfect marriage of rock and ballet—two art forms that shouldn’t work together, yet somehow create something entirely new in their collision.

Passion and Precision: “Tango Nights”

Without pausing, the rehearsal flows into “Tango Nights,” and the studio’s atmosphere immediately shifts. Bodies that moments ago were interpreting rock now embody the sophisticated language of tango. Set to Astor Piazzolla’s evocative compositions, this ballet explores sensuality and passion through movement that feels both precisely calibrated and dangerously spontaneous.

The dancers’ expressions change, their postures transform, and suddenly we’re transported to the intimate milieu of Argentine dance halls. Rather than echoing vocal complexities as in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the dancers’ bodies now capture the distinctive tensions and releases in Piazzolla’s bandoneon, creating visual manifestations of the instrument’s breathing quality.

Ethereal Contemplation: “Moonlight Sonata”

The rehearsal included Artistic Director Rafik Hegab’s latest creation, “Moonlight Sonata.” If “Bohemian Rhapsody” represents bold artistic fusion and “Tango Nights” embodies passionate sophistication, then “Moonlight Sonata” offers yet another transformation—into ethereal contemplation.

Beethoven’s haunting composition guides dancers through movements that seem to capture moonlight itself—from the First Quarter, to the Full, to the Waning Moon—sometimes clear and defined, other times elusive and mysterious. With remarkable sensitivity, Hegab has created choreography that responds to the music’s tonal qualities, allowing dancers to become physical embodiments of Beethoven’s emotional landscape. A highlight of this program is a striking pas de trois featuring two men and one woman, showcasing lifts, shapes, and “tosses” so innovative I have rarely observed them, much less in a single variation.

What makes this program so remarkable isn’t just the juxtaposition of these diverse pieces, but the seamless resonance the company achieves between sound and movement across wildly different musical worlds.

The Art of Shapeshifting

The dancers of Virginia National Ballet demonstrate remarkable versatility as they navigate through this ambitious triple-bill program. Moving from Queen to Piazzolla to Beethoven in a single performance showcases not just their technical mastery but their extraordinary artistic adaptability. This constant metamorphosis is evident in every aspect of the rehearsal. Dancers transform from classical technicians to rock interpreters to tango masters with seamless fluidity—a shapeshifting quality that demands an entirely new approach to both training and performance.

Sweat glistens on foreheads (mostly the men) as dancers move with precision through the complex choreography. This is a working rehearsal – as the intensity gears up, the dancers shed layers, from full leggings and sweater wraps to bare legs and spaghetti straps. Yet even in these practical moments, their commitment to artistic transformation never wavers.

Sitting in on Virginia National Ballet’s rehearsal, I’m witnessing familiar anthems and classical masterpieces reimagined through the language of dance in ways I never imagined possible. Three distinct musical voices. Three unique movement vocabularies. One company bold enough to transform itself completely, multiple times in a single evening.

Virginia National Ballet’s upcoming performance promises to be a masterclass in artistic shapeshifting—a journey through sound and motion that audiences won’t soon forget. Based in Manassas, Virginia, this company is quietly creating and producing incredible, high-quality productions. But make no mistake—their “Bohemian Rhapsody” will be anything but quiet! I can’t wait to experience this production.

Virginia National Ballet’s triple bill featuring “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Tango Nights,” and the world premiere of “Moonlight Sonata” will be performed at Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas, Virginia on Sunday, April 27 at 3 PM. Purchase Tickets. I purchased 10 tickets ! Everyone I have mentioned this performance is fascinated. Get your tickets soon.

You can see it in New Yor City on May 17 at the Ailey Citygroup Theater – buy tickets here.

Photo Credits: Professional photos curtesy of VNB