PERFORMANCE: Johnny Loves Johann – Music and Dance

PERFORMANCE: Johnny Loves Johann – Music and Dance

With violinist Johnny Gandelsman and choreographers Melissa Toogood and John Heginbotham

Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7PM

Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}

TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC members + Students w/ID

Join us Monday, December 15 at BMCM+AC for a one-night-only performance featuring world-renowned violinist Johnny Gandelsman and internationally acclaimed choreographer/dancers John Heginbotham and Melissa Toogood.

In this intimate, museum-scale version of Johnny Loves Johann, Gandelsman will perform Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 with new choreography by Melissa Toogood and Cello Suite No. 4 with new choreography by John Heginbotham. This unique program offers a powerful glimpse into the larger evening-length work, bringing together music and dance in fresh, unexpected ways. With Gandelsman’s folk- and dance-inspired interpretation at its core, Toogood and Heginbotham infuse Bach’s timeless compositions with humanity, curiosity, and contemporary movement—transforming them into a vibrant celebration of connection and community.

About the Program

At its heart, Johnny Loves Johann is a tribute to community – both among the artists themselves and with the audience members who join them on this journey. By inviting these remarkable choreographers to bring their personal and cultural narratives to Bach’s music, the project creates a tapestry of voices and perspectives that reflect the shared human experience.

Bach’s music is often put in the context of order and notions of perfection. While we can enjoy hearing it this way, it can also limit our experience of this music as the celebration of humanity and beautiful opportunity for connection that it is.

Gandelsman’s interpretation of Bach’s Cello Suites is special in its folk music- and dance-like qualities. Building upon that, the Johnny Loves Johann collaborators—each known for visceral, big-hearted art-making—re-visit the suites by leading with their humanity and curiosity.

About the Performers

Johnny Gandelsman
GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist, producer, and 2024 MacArthur Fellow Johnny Gandelsman blends diverse musical influences into a unique style. A founding member of Brooklyn Rider and former Silkroad Ensemble artist, he has collaborated with luminaries including Yo-Yo Ma, Béla Fleck, and Mark Morris.

Melissa Toogood
Renowned modern dancer and teacher, Melissa Toogood is Dean and Director of Juilliard’s Dance Division. A former Merce Cunningham dancer and longtime collaborator with Pam Tanowitz, she is celebrated for her artistry and mentorship worldwide.

John Heginbotham
Brooklyn-based choreographer and Artistic Director of Dance Heginbotham, John Heginbotham is known for his innovative works (2019 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! and Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy), and collaborations with top musicians and opera companies. He has received numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award.

Learn More: https://www.blackmountaincollege.org/events/johnny-loves-johann/