This fall, Saint Louis Dance Theatre (STLDT) launches its 2025–2026 Love Languages season, an ambitious program of premieres, masterworks, and collaborations designed to explore how dance serves as a universal language of human connection. 

Presented by Paul and Kathleen Matecki, Love Languages celebrates movement not just as art, but as a way to express emotion, vulnerability, and intimacy — those aspects of human experience that often go beyond words. Each production in the season underscores connection: to others, to place, and to inner emotions. 

STLDT is pushing the boundaries this season, bringing in internationally acclaimed choreographers and combining familiar repertory with bold new works. The aim is both artistic excellence and deeper engagement with the community. 

Highlights of the Season

Here are some of the standout moments to look forward to:

  • Fall Series (Nov 14-16, 2025): The season opens at the Catherine B. Berges Theatre at COCA with a world premiere by Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, alongside a new work by STLDT Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd and selections from the company’s repertory.  
  • Gaslight Dreams (Dec 19-20, 2025): A holiday tradition returns in collaboration with Jazz St. Louis. Set to the music of The Nutcracker Suite by Ellington & Strayhorn, this production turns holiday classics on their head in a festive contemporary-dance context.  
  • Music in Motion — Stravinsky & Debussy (Jan 10-11, 2026): A partnership with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at the newly renovated Powell Hall. Douthit-Boyd will premiere new choreography set to Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite.  
  • Winter Series (Feb 27-Mar 1, 2026): Features Walking Mad by Johan Inger, marking its company premiere in St. Louis, plus a new work from Douthit-Boyd. Expect dramatic movement, inventive staging, and emotionally potent themes.  
  • Tour de Dance (Mar 26, 2026): An immersive evening in the Grand Center Arts District, blending dance, dining, and curated artistic vignettes that bring performance into more intimate or unexpected spaces.  
  • Spring Series (May 29-31, 2026): The season concludes with Kiss by Stephanie Martinez — described as her love letter to fundamental human needs: to be seen, to be heard, to be honored. This, along with repertory favorites, promises a moving culmination to Love Languages.  

Community & Access

STLDT isn’t just aiming for artistic reach — it’s also committed to making dance accessible. Key programs include the Youth Access Program, Senior Embrace, and Community Night / Pay What You Can performances. There’s also Kids Circle for young audiences. Subscriptions start at $95. 

Partnerships also play a big role this season: 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis serves as the season hospitality partner and backdrop for the season’s photography, underscoring the connection between visual art, community spaces, and dance. 

In a time when many are craving connection and understanding, Love Languages arrives as more than just entertainment — it’s an invitation to feel, reflect, and recognize shared humanity. STLDT’s vision under Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd continues to weave St. Louis’ cultural legacy into contemporary art, while inviting local, regional, and national audiences into its conversation. 

Photo Credit: @ianandkelly

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