Mission

Young and old will enjoy the artistry of a full-length ballet that will premier in Fall 2022 and learn about our wonderful planet and the vulnerable and much loved species of turtles and tortoises.

An emotional dance experience bringing awareness and teaching viewers about our environment and wildlife conservation at the same time.

In a world where wildlife preservation is so vitally important, it is Benjamin Briones Ballet’s vision to use the artform of dance as a means of creating awareness amongst the general public by helping to educate and guiding on how a difference can be made by anyone who wants to make one.

Fergus is a mixed “Turtus”, with a mother living in water and a father on land, making him different to all others.

In search of his place in the world and encountering many adventures, Fergus highlights that his true super power is just that: being unique.

Viewers of all ages will walk out of Fergus and have gained an appreciation of wildlife while watching a ballet.

Art And Nature: A Partnership for Life

Based on Fergus the Turtus by Sebastian Morley and with support from the Fergus Advisory Committee consisting in leading wildlife experts and Turtle Conservancy, The Pritchard Collection, Hudson River Park, Desert Tortoise Council, Terrapin Nesting Project and European Turtle Alliance, Benjamin Briones Ballet presents a unique collaboration between the arts and conservation bringing awareness to the dance audience of a species close to extinction.

Dancing in hand made costumes painted by artist Rene Maynez to Felipe Perez Santiago’s dynamic score, the audience will discover the complex world of turtle survival. Poaching, pollution and habitat loss are just some of the issues these vulnerable animals are faced with.

The filmed Introduction of Fergus as a Work in Progress features a special guest appearance of former Royal Ballet Soloist, Fernando Montano, dancing Henry the Sulcata Tortoise, the fantastic adventures of Fergus will help create awareness that turtles and tortoises are some of the most endangered animals on the planet.

A modern day balletic fairy tale.

Viewers of all ages will learn about wildlife conservation and the environment and the important issues turtles and tortoises are facing in order to survive on this planet.

Timeline

Fergus will open in New York City in Summer 2022 as a two-act ballet for the whole family. It will then initially be performed internationally, in London and Mexico City.

In the meantime, Benjamin Briones Ballet is thrilled to present the filmed Introduction of Fergus as a Work on Progress upon request and as announced to audiences around the world.

Advisory & Support Committee

David Bain, Lynn Darling, Peter Paul van Dijk, Ph.D, Eric Goode, Siddhartha Hayes, Kelly Herbison, James Juvik, Ph.D, Toland Kister, Kathy Lacey, Zoë Lescaze, James Liu, DVM, Sebastian Morley, Sibille Pritchard, Maurice Rodrigues, Craig Stanford, Ph.D, Nathanael Stanek, Eleanor Tirtasana Chubb, Michael Tuma, Michael Zilkha

DONATE NOW

You can help make the world’s first turtle ballet become a reality and help educate through dance.

We are raising funds for Theater rental, production of back drops/staging, dancer’s compensation, costumes and costume design, marketing, PR and IT expenses, rehearsal studio space rental, visual media costs, transportation and disbusrements.

Contact Chiara Gorodesky, our Executive Director, for more information on making tax deductible donations at chiara@benjaminbrionesballet.org and find out how you can get involved.

You can also visit our GoFundMe page to make a contribution.

Did you know…

Turtles and tortoises are some of the most trafficked animals on the planet. Sold as food, so-called medicinal purposes and as pets. They battle with pollution, poaching and habitat loss all caused by us humans.

The Madagascan Ploughshare Tortoise is being sold on the black market for around $80,000.00 and regarded as “status symbol”. There are only around 100 left in the wild.

Photo Credit: Turtle Conservancy

Only 15% of the world’s lands are protected and over 50% of all turtles are facing extinction?

The only way to ensure the survival is to secure vulnerable habitat of endangered species, which means to buy the land that they live on.

YOU CAN HELP!

• Educate others about tortoise conservation
• Donate to help bring Fergus to the stage by Summer 2022 to spread awareness
• Don’t buy wildlife as pets
• Flag suspicious social media posts
• Support our conservationists in their mission to help save the world’s most vulnerable species from extinction.