DEBUTS: Three World Premieres Transform San Diego’s Contemporary Ballet Scene
- Carly Topazio
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 8
If you’re looking for the most exciting live performance in San Diego this summer, mark your calendar for DEBUTS, presented by The Rosin Box Project. From August 22–24, 2025, this thrilling program will showcase three world premieres from acclaimed choreographers Ching Ching Wong, Garrett Smith, and TRBP Artistic Director Carly Topazio—all performed by The Rosin Box Project’s extraordinary company of dancers. With only three performances, DEBUTS is a rare opportunity to experience the forefront of contemporary ballet—bold, personal, and now.
When & Where to Experience DEBUTS
📅 August 22–24, 2025
📍 California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Three nights. Three premieres. One extraordinary space where dance history will be made.
Why DEBUTS Is the Must-See Performing Arts Event in San Diego
Three World Premieres in One Weekend
It’s rare to see even one world premiere in a season—let alone three in one weekend. DEBUTS offers a triple bill of brand-new works, each bringing its own vision, movement language, and emotional impact. This is San Diego performing arts at its most innovative.
San Diego’s Contemporary Ballet Powerhouse
Since its founding, The Rosin Box Project has been redefining what ballet can be—bold, relevant, innovative, and connected to the community. From immersive experiences to unexpected collaborations, TRBP continues to expand the conversation around ballet in San Diego.
Experience International Talent—Before the World Does
Two of DEBUTS’ premieres come from artists whose artistry and work have graced stages across the globe: Ching Ching Wong, a Princess Grace Award-winning dancer and choreographer, and Garrett Smith, whose creations have been performed by top companies from Houston Ballet to Norwegian National Ballet. You get to experience a brand-new creation from each of them right here, performed by San Diego’s premiere contemporary ballet company you know and love.
An Unforgettable Night Out
For young professionals, couples, and friends looking for something fresh—this is an evening that blends high-caliber performance with an electric social atmosphere. Arrive early for a drink, explore the California Center for the Arts’ exhibitions and plaza, and then settle in for 90 minutes of artistry that will leave you talking long after the curtain call.
Art That Speaks to Now
Even if you’ve never seen ballet before, DEBUTS offers a way in. These works speak in a physical language that’s immediate and human—addressing ideas of memory, connection, and the structures that shape our lives. It’s art without pretense, designed to be felt as much as it’s seen.
Meet the Choreographers Behind the Premieres
Ching Ching Wong –The Shelf Life, Ep. 03
Internationally celebrated dancer and choreographer Ching Ching Wong brings her storytelling mastery to San Diego with The Shelf Life, Ep. 03. A recipient of the Princess Grace Award and former member of NW Dance Project, Wong’s work blends theatricality, vulnerability, and a deep connection to human memory. In this premiere, she invites audiences into a surreal archive where treasured and painful memories coexist—an intimate and imaginative journey that promises to linger long after the curtain falls.
Garrett Smith –New Untitled Work
Renowned for his innovative, boundary-pushing choreography, Garrett Smith has created works for companies including Houston Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, and Ballet West. His style fuses powerful classical technique with striking contemporary forms, often playing with illusion, symmetry, and extreme physicality. This new creation for The Rosin Box Project marks his first commission with the company, offering audiences in Escondido and greater San Diego a rare opportunity to see a world premiere from one of today’s most in-demand choreographers.
Carly Topazio –The Construct That Holds Us
Founder and Artistic Director of The Rosin Box Project, Carly Topazio is known for her fearless approach to contemporary ballet—melding classical precision with athletic, emotionally charged movement. In The Construct That Holds Us, Topazio explores the visible and invisible structures—both personal and societal—that shape us. Expect intricate partnering, bold physical architecture, and moments of stillness that speak volumes. Her work has been praised for its “striking clarity and human honesty,” making this premiere one of the season’s most anticipated.
📅 August 22–24, 2025
📍 California Center for the Arts, Escondido
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