What makes UNITY a must-see? The full evening world premiere from Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber follows the huge success of their 2025 Ballet BC debut Obsidian. With live music onstage, cinematic influences, and the depth of a full-length creation, UNITY brings together a remarkable range of artistic elements into one unforgettable event.
Here are six reasons you won’t want to miss it.
1. Makers of the moment
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber are among the most in-demand choreographers of today. In the past year alone, they have premiered full-length works for both NYC’s Hudson River gem Little Island and the National Ballet of Canada, directed and choreographed Philip Glass’ Satyagraha for the Paris Opera, premiering April 10, and celebrated the release of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s latest feature film The Bride!, which they also choreographed along with tap phenom Michelle Dorrance. Read a new Q+A with the duo in Dance Magazine here, a New York Times profile here, and hear a recent episode of CBC’s Q with Tom Power here.
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber by Ted Belton.
2. Live music on stage
Our artists will be joined onstage by a string quartet playing the Philip Glass score live, adding to the virtuosity of the full evening performance. The work is set to selected movements from Glass’ 1985 soundtrack for the feature film Mishima, a biological drama chronicling the life of Japanese author and activist Yukio Mishima, and music that has stood the test of time from one of the world’s most celebrated composers. A special opportunity to experience the convergence of movement and live music.
Composer Philip Glass (r) by Steve Pyke.
3. The entire company shines
The new work features all 20 Ballet BC dancers, demonstrating the talent and versatility of each of our amazing artists. The dancers have been working collaboratively with the choreographers, as well as with rehearsal directors Emily Chessa and Alexis Fletcher, generating a breadth of material that is everything from playful to deeply moving—all showcasing their unique individuality as dancers and humans, as well as the power of the collective.
Artists of Ballet BC rehearse the world premiere. Photo by Millissa Martin.
4. Cinematic inspiration
The cinematic realm is a big source of inspiration for Smith and Schraiber, who have a history of collaboration with the world of film, including on 2019’s Aviva directed by Boaz Yakin, and the 2025 Terence Malick film The Way of the Wind, in addition to Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!. In 2025, they created Waiting Places, an hour-long dance film adapted from a live work of the same name, co-presented by ALL ARTS, the Jewish Film Institute, and the San Francisco Ballet. Fun fact: Ballet BC dancer Joziah German also has an on-screen role in The Bride!.
'Waiting Places'. Bobbi Jene Smith, Astrid Elbo and Kizzy Matiakis.
5. A deeper dive
UNITY will be Ballet BC’s first full-evening work since presenting Artistic Director Medhi Walerski’s Romeo + Juliet in 2019, offering a different kind of experience—a more expansive and emotionally resonant live performance. All of the artistic elements, such as movement, set design, and music, are related to a single creative vision. Artists are able to dive more deeply into the choreographic process, build tension and connection, and explore repetition, scale, and transformation in ways that might not be possible with shorter works.
6. Hear about 26/27 first
As one season draws to a close, a milestone year comes into view. Ballet BC’s celebratory 40th anniversary season is on the horizon—and you’re invited to be among the very first to experience what’s next. Revealed live onstage at UNITY by Medhi Walerski, the 2026/27 lineup promises bold new creations, unforgettable collaborations, and the dynamic energy that defines our company. Join us as we celebrate four decades of innovation and step into a future shaped by the transformative power of dance.
