I gazed over the small gathering of people seated in the audience, all chatting away with excitement over what I was about to announce.
I felt a nervous energy running through my veins, and I could sense Ivy’s nerves as well. There was a lot of pressure on both her and Preston to perform well tonight. My heart weighed heavily with what I was asking of her.
She was a professional, and this was her job, I reminded myself.
Isaac and Lukas gave me the ready-to-go gesture, signaling that everyone was ready. Letting out a large exhale, I took my spot onstage and turned to our group of roughly four dozen potential funders.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here tonight. I recognize many of you as friends of the ballet, but in case you are new, my name is Demetrius Ivan, and I am the Artistic Director of Arco Ballet Company. It means a great deal to us to share this preview with such a close circle of supporters, many of whom have believed in Arco since the very beginning.
“Some of you may have heard the rumors, while others may have speculated. Either way, tonight confirms what you've all been wondering. The rumors are true.
“It’s my privilege to formally introduce Ivy Turin and Preston Maleric as Arco Ballet’s confirmed scent-matched omega dance pairing. This is a rare match, one we’ve not seen in the professional world in nearly a decade.
“Their connection is real, instinctual, and it creates something onstage that’s nearly impossible to replicate: total trust, heightened emotional instinct, and unparalleled timing. What you’ll see tonight is not just choreography. It’s a living expression of biology and artistry working in tandem—something deeply moving, and, quite frankly, historic.
“Let’s begin with their first duet—a piece that captures the spark and quick essence of a couple who celebrate their partnership.”
Whispers rolled through the small gathering as I stepped back and waited. The lights dimmed, and the music boomed in the theater. Right on cue, Preston led Ivy onstage to perform their duet from this weekend’s upcoming performance.
Each time I watched Ivy and Preston rehearse this piece, their execution sharpened and evolved, growing stronger as their trust in each other continued to develop. Tonight was no exception. I could see the level at which they synced together to whip out so many turns.
I was holding my breath with excitement for what I was seeing, and I already knew the choreography. I glanced over to the rows of funders, all seated at the edge of their seats, some in an amazed state, ready to applaud.
Ivy’s pirouettes whipped like nothing else as Preston grabbed her waist and guided her through the air so effortlessly. The last diagonal sequence started now; there were the intricate hand passes between them, the last turn, and lastly, the final pull down to Preston’s knee. Done.
Half of the funders jumped out of their seats at the energy Preston and Ivy just delivered, all giving them a big applause.
“Absolutely wonderful!” Lily Mayhew exclaimed, cheering them on.
Preston and Ivy gave a small bow before returning backstage to change.
“Pretty impressive, no?” I walked back to the stage to re-engage the funders. “We’re going to give them a minute to change and catch their breath. What you just saw was a sneak peek from this weekend’s performance. Ivy and Preston will be performing the handler’s duet from Act One ofMoonlight Whispersfor all six shows.
“You can already sense the chemistry between these two—how much of the story is told in their breath and body language. That kind of connection cannot be choreographed—it’s lived, and it’s what we’re building this new era of Arco Ballet around.
“However, it’s not just the partnership we’re celebrating either. Both of these dancers are outstanding artists in their own right.
“First, we’ll shift focus to Preston, whose leadership onstage has shaped the heartbeat of Arco since its inception. This solo showcases his depth, his grace, and his ability to carry emotional weight with power and restraint.”
Preston walked onstage and took his position. The male Sugar Plum Cavalier variation fromNutcrackerwasplayed, and Preston delivered. He brought his charm, elegance, and flawless technicality throughout the whole piece. I’d seenhim perform this variation countless times, but tonight seemed to put those past performances to shame.
His final move finished in a kneel, again earning an excited round of applause from the various funders.
“Next, we’ll watch Ivy perform a piece selected to highlight her technical range and finesse. She brings something special to the stage—something that reminds us all why we fell in love with ballet in the first place.”
Ivy took her place on the stage, wearing a beautiful purple classical tutu. A delicate tiara sat on top of her head, and her eyes shone with magic. The gentle notes of the Sugar Plum Fairy female variation music came to life over the speakers.
I’d been so busy these past few weeks that I hadn’t really been able to watch her variation yet. But standing onstage, she was everything a princess should be. Her smile was so inviting and authentic, and she had a way of pulling the audience in like she was dancing only for them. Her movements were a tad more fluid from her contemporary background, but it worked for her. I was so enraptured by her performance that when she ended, I broke into applause briefly before catching myself and earning a few laughs from those closest to me.
I recaptured the audience’s attention as Ivy left the stage.
“I’m sure you’ve recognized the music for both dancers. We are currently working on revamping portions of ourupcomingNutcrackerperformance as a debut production for Ivy and Preston’s partnership.
“Which brings me to my other point about our amazing partnership. All our choreography is created by Isaac Senders, our resident choreographer and another scent-matched member of the Arco pack. His ability to tune in to our omega couple creates unique movement and steps unparalleled anywhere else.
“Last for our viewing tonight is a brand-new duet choreographed by Isaac just for you. This duet pushes our pair to the edge of their connection—technically, emotionally, and instinctively. It’s both daring and intimate. And it’s the kind of contemporary work we plan to use to reshape the reputation of Arco in seasons to come. Enjoy.”
Ivy and Preston had changed into two new outfits—Ivy was wearing a red, skin-tight unitard and Preston was wearing loose black pants. I’d only seen this duet once, right after Isaac finished choreographing it, so I was curious to observe what range of emotions Isaac was talking about wanting to pull from the pair.
