Laufey Joins Dancers From American Ballet Theatre and NYCB for Films at the Guggenheim

Inside the spiraling rotunda of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Grammy Award–winning musician Laufey presented a new series of ballet performance films that extend her latest album “A Matter of Time” into the world of dance. Known for her lush orchestral sound and cinematic lyricism, the Icelandic-Chinese artist now bridges her musical universe with the grace and rigor of ballet—set against one of New York’s most iconic architectural spaces.

Reimagining Ballet Beyond the Stage

Directed by Gus Black, the first two films, Clockwork and Lover Girl II, debuted with choreography by Stephanie Gotch, the Creative Director of Dance, and former American Ballet Theatre soloist Gabe Stone Shayer. In Clockwork, New York City Ballet (NYCB) principals Indiana Woodward and Joseph Gordon move alongside NYCB soloist Alexa Maxwell and former soloist Megan LeCrone, their choreography echoing Laufey’s intricate rhythms. Lover Girl II unfolds as a duet of duets: Shayer partners American Ballet Theatre’s Zimmi Coker, while Woodward and Gordon return in new roles.

Two weeks ago, another two films by the cast, Silver Lining and Snow White, appeared at the Guggenheim, completing a cycle that reimagines what ballet can be when staged as cinematic art. All together, they weave a dialogue between music and movement that feels both timeless and of the moment.

“It was a dream to dance to Laufey’s music live,” Woodward shared with Whitewall. “We created a beautiful marriage between song and dance as they used to do in the old Hollywood days and it was pure magic.”

A Meeting of Music, Movement, and Architecture

“Too often in film and today’s pop culture, ballet is treated as a visual accessory to merely convey a ‘superficial beauty’ without diving into the hard work and athleticism that it takes to dance at such a high level,” said Gotch. “In contrast, we featured some of the best dancers in the world from both American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet, highlighting their artistry and impeccable technique. The videos also illustrate the beauty in the conversation between movement and music, with Laufey’s new music inspiring the choreography. While not everybody has access to an art form that is typically confined to a more traditional performance environment, we hope that our videos allow a wider variety of audiences.”

By expanding ballet’s vocabulary beyond the stage, the films explore how music, architecture, and dance can create fresh conversations. Within the Guggenheim’s spiraling ramps and open void, each performer’s moves and lines are amplified, while the live presence of Laufey herself makes the atmosphere more intimate than a staged performance.

Fashion and Film as Storytelling

The films are styled in custom Polo Ralph Lauren looks, with beauty by Valentino Beauty—choices that enhance the project’s layered aesthetic. The wardrobe nods to the brand’s authentic American look and its past in ballet—as Ralph Lauren designed costumes for Twyla Tharp in the past—while its contemporary tailoring resonates with Laufey’s modern, genre-blurring sound. These visual details blend seamlessly into the choreography, reminding the audience that ballet can embody both tradition and innovation.

Expanding the Artistic Universe

With these performances set to the tunes of songs on Laufey’s “A Matter of Time” ablum—which hit number four on the Billboard 200 chart—the collaborations mark a bold expansion of Laufey’s artistic practice at a timely point in her career.

With this project, celebrated dancers from New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre are spotlit once again, but it positions ballet as a living, evolving form, capable of adapting to new soundscapes and settings.

“At a time when traditional arts are losing visibility among younger audiences, the project puts a spotlight on some of NYC’s most exceptional ballet talent, including principal dancers from New York City Ballet.”