With ‘Visionary Voices,’ New York City Ballet Offers Glimpse of Its Future

Just before the pandemic, New York City Ballet was finally beginning to recover from a series of unfortunate events. In 2018, Peter Martins, the company’s longtime director, resigned amid allegations of abuse and misconduct (which he denies), followed closely by a texting scandal that led to the firing, then rehiring, of two star dancers.

By the start of 2020, however, a new creative team was in place, led by artistic director Jonathan Stafford and associate artistic director Wendy Whelan, both beloved company alumni, as well as Justin Peck, resident choreographer and artistic advisor. That spring, Jamar Roberts, a veteran dancer of the Alvin Ailey company and its newly appointed resident choreographer, was set to debut his first work for City Ballet. The company’s future looked promising. And then, you know: Covid-19.