Courage, Perseverance, and Trust: The Manjiro Story
Schedule
Sun Mar 08 2026 at 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
2459 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA | New Bedford, MA
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New Bedford Ballet Celebrates Local Ties to JapanTravel in time to 1841 as the New Bedford Youth Ballet performs Courage, Perseverance, and Trust: The Manjiro Story, for its annual spring performance on Sunday, March 8 at the NBB Community Theatre, 2459 Purchase Street in New Beford. Performances of Courage, Perseverance, and Trust: The Manjiro Story will be at 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Choreographed by artistic director Rebecca Waskiel-Marchesseault, and set to traditional Japanese music, featuring Taiko Drum Ensemble, Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers, and Yamato Ensemble, this original historical ballet is based on the extraordinary life of Manjiro Nakahama.
As a poor, uneducated, shipwrecked Japanese boy, Manjiro was rescued by the whaling ship John Howland and taken to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, by Captain William Whitfield, where he overcame significant cultural barriers while receiving a formal education. He later returned to Japan, and after receiving the honor of becoming a Shogun samurai, convinced the Japanese government to open trade with the U.S. The bond forged between the captain and the young boy continues today in the sister-city relationship between Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and Tosashimizu, Japan. Learn about this fascinating story in a narrated ballet wonderful for all ages.
The New Bedford Youth Ballet will also be performing Courage, Perseverance, and Trust: The Manjiro Story for elementary schools in Acushnet, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford. The program will bring this captivating story to life for the students through the art of ballet.
The New Bedford Youth Ballet is a company of the New Bedford Ballet Foundation, Inc. Founded in 1987, the Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and present classical ballets, grant scholarships, and educate the community about the beauty of this performing art. Throughout the years, aided by the financial support of the Foundation, thousands of area school children and senior citizens have had the opportunity to witness the splendor of “live” ballet.
Courage, Perseverance, and Trust: The Manjiro Story is sponsored by Econ Electrical Contracts, Southcoast Health, The William and Deborah Synnott Family, Lang, Xifaras & Bullard Trial Lawyers, Riccardi’s Italian Restaurants and Buffet Catering, Colonial Air, Country Woolens, Lucida Clinical Trials, Matias Landscaping, Ray Hunt Design, Hawthorn Medical, and Inner Bay Café. The school programs are funded in part by grants from the Acushnet, Fairhaven, and Mattapoisett Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors, Students, and Children $10.
For more information, call New Bedford Ballet at 508-993-1387. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online through New Bedford Ballet's website at newbedfordballet.org
For over 35 years, the non-profit New Bedford Ballet has continued its mission of keeping the performing arts alive in our community. To learn more about the New Bedford Ballet, including child and adult classes and community programs, visit their website, www.newbedfordballet.org.
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Where is it happening?
2459 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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