(HIGH BRIDGE, NJ) -- Roxey Ballet proudly announces the premiere of NJ Ballad, a moving new dance work celebrating the heart and history of the Garden State, to be presented at this year's Dancing on the Green on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the scenic High Bridge Grounds for Art. The event is free and open to the public.
Commissioned as a tribute to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, NJ Ballad draws inspiration from New Jersey’s diverse cultural legacy, iconic landmarks, and revolutionary past. Through original choreography, live music, and dynamic storytelling, this stirring piece captures themes of resilience, unity, and the enduring spirit of the people who call New Jersey home.
“We wanted to create something that resonates with every New Jerseyan—a work that honors where we’ve been and where we’re going,” says Mark Roxey, Artistic Director and Founder of Roxey Ballet. “NJ Ballad is not just a performance—it’s a celebration of identity, legacy, and hope.”
The performance will feature professional dancers from Roxey Ballet and live music composed by Richard Jarboe and Robert Sands, echoing the rhythm and pulse of the state itself. At its core, the work pays homage to pivotal New Jersey moments, including a nod to the famed George Washington Crossing the Delaware, reimagined through modern choreography and open-air spectacle.
The event takes place Saturday, September 13, 2025 at High Bridge Grounds for Art (1 Washington Ave) in High Bridge, New Jersey. The event runs from 1:00pm to 5:00pm with Roxey Ballet performing around 4:00pm. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and your love for local arts and experience the premiere of a breathtaking work that reflects the past, present, and future of New Jersey—through the lens of one of the state’s leading professional ballet companies.
Dancing on the Green is a nationally acclaimed Creative Placemaking initiative that redefines public spaces as community hubs for world-class art. Known for transforming parks and greens into immersive cultural experiences, this year’s event promises to be a highlight of the fall arts calendar.
The Roxey Ballet began in 1995 as the Hunterdon Youth Ballet when professional dancers, Mark and Melissa Roxey, brought world-class professional dance training and performance opportunities to Hunterdon County, New Jersey and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Mark and Melissa both had distinguished careers with American dance companies including The Joffrey Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, and Dayton Ballet, among others.
As the regional youth ballet company began to grow, the trustees of the Hunterdon County Youth Ballet changed its name to The Roxey Ballet Company, Inc to reflect its clear direction and development into an outstanding touring professional dance company with a superb roster of internationally recognized artists from all over the world. Today audiences enjoy more than 70 repertory works and a wide range of full-length ballets.
The company has performed extensively around the country including New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington DC for the 2008 Inauguration of President Obama. The company is currently experiencing a major transition in its life cycle and is committed to procuring high-quality artists and original repertory works from emerging and established choreographers.
The Roxey Ballet's typical season includes performances from September through June of each year, including a Fall main-stage concert, the holiday classic production of The Nutcracker, a Winter event, and Children's Classic Stories spring productions. The remainder of the season is spent conducting a variety of services and concerts, from educational performances, workshops, and residencies, to master classes and touring.
The Mill Ballet School is the official school of Roxey Ballet.
