Dark Ballet – An Xperience Interview

Dark Ballet – An Xperience Interview – by Rob Smittix.

RRX: We’re interviewing Jeff and Crystal Moore of Dark Ballet. Your website says you are an unconventional band that fuses hard rock, metal, movement, and mystery. Where did the name Dark Ballet come from?

JM: Dark Ballet was originally formed in Yorkshire, England, in 2011. We were visiting some friends—and Crystal was busy picking up surfer dudes.

CM: Hey! I paid for surfing lessons.

JM: [laughs] Anyway, at the time, Crystal was deep in international research projects for her work, traveling a lot. I was just beginning to rekindle my songwriting. My earlier work was always fragmented, but after spending time with some artist friends there, my writing began to take shape. That’s when the idea for Dark Ballet began to form.

CM: And what else…Go on, tell ’em.

JM: I’ve been described as … intense. I’ve always felt a powerful pull toward the dark—like there were entities reaching out to me. I grew up in a very conservative religious household, and for years, I believed I was bound for Hell just for feeling this way. One voice in particular—a female voice—has “communicated” with me for decades. She suggests many of the projects we write. In fact, she inspired our piece, “Queen of the Night,” which we performed with the Skidmore College Department of Dance.

RRX: That’s both cool and a little eerie. Crystal, how does that sit with you?

CM: It’s cool with me. I love our music and the message that we send, so it works! I was raised in an evangelical tradition and gospel—it’s all still part of me. But over time, I found many churches weren’t welcoming to the people I care deeply about. So, I started expressing my faith and values through broader musical styles and collaborations.

JM: And that’s really the last piece of what makes Dark Ballet. Crystal brings this passionate drive for justice and inclusion. I bring the voices—the stories that come from the shadows and ask to be told. Together, we give voice to those stories, especially the ones people are afraid to face.

RRX: So what kind of music does Dark Ballet create?

JM: We compose hard rock and metal, but with jazz and classical influences. Some songs are fully instrumental. Others are lyrical and narrative-driven. It’s dynamic and layered, always emotionally charged. I always write a ‘story’ or libreto to describe the music before I do it, because it’s movement and story-driven.

RRX: And the theme of your upcoming album is descriptive: “The Weight of Unfortunate Circumstance”?

JM: Yes—coming out in October. Every song on the album reflects something mourned. But we approach mourning as part of the full human journey—grief, beauty, memory, pain, and strength. One of the central pieces, “Girl in the Tree,” tells the story of a family member who was sexually abused for most of her life. The weight of that trauma led her to take her own life in her early 20s. Everyone around her knew—but no one acted. Her father was the abuser, and I hold him directly responsible for her death. So does she. Normally, I write with metaphor. But this time, the girl wanted her story told plainly and in detail.

CM: Themes of abuse and suicide aren’t easy, so finding a willing collaborator was a little challenging. But Jillian Ruddy, director of Spendwood School of Dance, embraced the vision and helped us bring “Girl in the Tree” and “War God” to life on stage.

RRX: You really work with ballet companies?

CM: Yes! Jeff has always loved classical ballet and always wanted to write music for dance of all types.

JM: Music reaches the emotional and spiritual realms. Dance completes the experience by grounding it in the body. When both are working together, the audience doesn’t just watch—they feel. That’s what we’re going for.

RRX: So your next show includes ballet?

JM: Yes. We’re performing at The Egg in Albany on June 28 at 7 PM. Dark Ballet will perform two pieces with Spendwood. Then we shift to two more surreal and ethereal aerial works performed by Good Karma Studio. After our set, Good Karma will round out the night with the Aerial Dance of the Zodiac. Between the two, you’ve never seen anything quite like this.

CM: We’re also partnering with Precious Souls, a nonprofit working to prevent child abuse. If you use the code PRECIOUS when purchasing your ticket, half of the sale goes directly to them.

JM: That’s right—it’s not your grandma’s ballet, and it’s not your father’s rock concert. Plus, you get an entire Zodiac-themed aerial show!

RRX: Are you two the only members of Dark Ballet?

JM: Crystal and I are the creative core—the heart and soul of the band. I give voice to the vision with vocals and guitar, Crystal is our heartbeat as bassist. We’ve worked with incredible musicians like guitarist Mike Voelker, shred master Chuck Van Zandt, and currently the stylish Jess Knapp-Laws on rhythm guitar. Lineups change based on the piece, but the core vision remains. We have worked with other international creative visual artists like Martin Vrigsjo and Karen Ruffles.

Dark Ballet is about life, death, pain, joy—and everything in between. When we stop running from the darkness, when we face it, life starts to make more sense. That’s the metaphor: we all dance the Dark Ballet.

RRX: Thanks for the little chat. So everyone, get your tickets and join Dark Ballet at the Egg on the 28th.

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