Boulder’s Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet — the cutting-edge dance company with a delectable name — is marking its 25th anniversary in the Boulder Community this weekend with the world premiere of “RUSH,” a groundbreaking new work by internationally acclaimed choreographer and company founder Robert Sher-Machherndl.

The performances will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, showcasing Sher-Machherndl’s striking, singular approach to pushing the boundaries of dance. Tickets are $28 to $34.

While many people picture ballet as dainty ballerinas in tutus, slicked-back buns and satin pointe shoes, Sher-Machherndl breaks the mold by performing in all black, sometimes barefoot or in Asics sneakers — and no bun in sight.

Sher-Machherndl’s unconventional approach to ballet, from his attire to his choreography, is fully realized in “RUSH,” where his innovative vision challenges traditional notions of the art form. Audiences can expect a performance full of unexpected movement and emotion, blending plush, silky choreography with moments of awkwardness and everyday gestures that even ballet neophytes can understand.

“In every audience, the majority of people are not dance experts, and I appreciate that,” Sher-Machherndl said. “My work with ballet is experimental; I take the traditional elements people might expect and I turn them upside down, presenting them in an entirely new way. Individuals who come with no preconceived notions — completely naked and open to anything— are in a good position to experience my work.”

Sher-Machherndl calls the piece an experiment.

“I play around with music, with movement, with space, with other people,” Sher-Machherndl said. “How much can I move my ribcage, my spine, my knees, my elbow? It’s about pushing the boundaries of what the body and ballet can express.”

Sher-Machherndl, a native of Vienna, Austria, has been dancing for decades. As a former principal dancer with both the Dutch National Ballet and Bavarian State Ballet, he’s also choreographed for leading ballet companies such as the Vienna State Ballet, Finnish National Ballet and Bavarian State Ballet. In a long and illustrious career, Sher-Machherndl considers dance as more of a second language than an art form.

“I use my whole body to explain how I feel now about my past and how I feel about the future, in the world of ballet in general,” he said. “Imagine you learn ballet as a young adult, and it’s always with you, every day you train and rehearse and perform. It’s constantly in your body, and I never stopped training. I do my classes, and exercises, every day. It’s with you for many years. I use ‘RUSH’ to explain how dance is in my body right now.”

Sher-Machherndl will be joined on stage by two guest collaborators: Makaila Wallace, formerly of Ballet BC in Vancouver, B.C., and Sadie Brown, formerly of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Together, the three speak to one another — and to audiences — using movement as a mouthpiece.

“With ‘RUSH,’ I give them the movements, which essentially means I’m teaching them a new language — movement is my language, and I’m passing it on to them,” Sher-Machherndl said. “Once they’ve learned this language, they can use it to tell their own stories. As we’ve worked together, we’ve also developed a collective narrative. Makaila has her story, Sadie has hers, and I have mine, but together, we’ve created something larger — a story that belongs to all of us as a community.”

For more information and tickets, visit the Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet website at lemonspongecake.org.