An astronomical ballet, what a treat! The Seventh Night Sky, currently being performed by Ballet Austin, is inspired by a Vietnamese tradition. In the world of ballet, however, it is the latest in a tradition that goes back centuries.
In 1572, the ballet-masquerade Le Paradis d’amour was performed in Paris to evoke cosmic harmony on Earth. The performance was illuminated by a revolving model that depicted the twelve signs of the zodiac, seven planets and an infinity of little stars.
The infinity of little stars in both ballets is nothing other than the Milky Way, our very own galaxy, whose shimmering appearance of an infinity of little stars plays a big part in The Seventh Night Sky. While most people today, living in the light pollution of cities, never witness the majesty of the Milky Way, it was not always so.
To keep the attention span within bounds for children, this performance lasts just 45 minutes. The dancers here are from Ballet Austin TWO, a younger set of accomplished dancers, all of whom acquitted themselves admirably. The lead dancers are Caleb Holt a grad of the Ballet Program at the University of Utah, and Alayna Hamade, an Austin native who studied at the Austin Dance Conservatory.
Caleb’s character, the Protagonist, reminds me of The Little Prince in the 1943 classic story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. That golden-haired boy represents pure imagination, wonder, and the clear perspective of children.
The story of the ballet derives from a festival, lit by lanterns, that has been celebrated in China and Vietnam for centuries. The myth is inspired by the stars Vega and Altair, which sit on opposite sides of the Milky Way. The Protagonist is likewise separated from his Beloved by the Milky Way. How to meet? Enter here a flock of magpies, who guide the Protagonist across the Milky Way, where he dances with his Beloved.
One Mother towing her youngster along said she loved the ballet, “but I’m not sure why the magpies were so ominous!” Hopefully they did not frighten anyone!
A lovely story, beautifully told in this superb offering by Ballet Austin.
Lead photo: Caleb Holt and Alayna Hamade, under the lantern-lit festival. Curtain call photo by C. Cunningham
With choreography by Thang Dao, The Seventh Night Sky will be performed again Oct. 17 and 18, 2026
The ballet was commissioned by The Bancroft Initiative.
Tickets: BalletAustin.org