Ballet BC Annex

About Ballet BC Annex

The Project

Ballet BC Annex project, a collaboration with Arts Umbrella Dance, offers an invaluable opportunity for schools and communities across BC to engage in world-class dance and educational programming.

The Annex project tours schools in Metro Vancouver and throughout BC, bringing contemporary dance repertoire, professional performances, and workshops to student groups and audiences of all ages. In the 2023/24 season, we are thrilled to present a new creation by UK-based choreographer Joseph Toonga, as well as Ballet BC Artistic Director Medhi Walerski’s Blink of an Eye.

In schools, workshops led by dancers and Ballet BC’s Outreach and Education team will accompany each performance, offering insight into the choreographic process and the career path of a dancer. Students will learn excerpts from the performance and engage in creative dialogue.

What to Expect

Ballet BC Annex dancers as well as select guest artists will visit your school or community location.

The half-day program will consist of the opportunity to watch a performance and participate in a dancer-facilitated workshop learning Ballet BC repertoire. There will also be an opportunity for students to engage with the artists and ask questions.

Learning Outcomes and Experiences

Exposure to diverse professional dance training opportunities
Opportunity to engage with and learn from professional Ballet BC dancers
Development of relevant criteria for interpreting and analyzing, and reflecting on dance
An understanding of the power of collaboration and teamwork in artistic processes
An understanding of contemporary dance in today’s world and how art remains relevant
Activation of creativity and innovative thinking
An understanding of dance as a career path

2023/24 Repertoire

New Creation | Joseph Toonga

Joseph makes and performs dance productions relevant to the here and now which are embedded in Hip Hop and inspired by real life stories. His craftsmanship and signature choreographic style challenges conventions commonly used in Hip Hop dance and shifts audience perceptions by addressing racial stigmas and societal stereotypes.

Blink of an Eye | Medhi Walerski

Rooted in the idea of duality and set to music by Bach, Blink of an Eye was originally created for Nederlands Dans Theater in 2011.

“The performance connected our school with the larger arts and culture community in Vancouver, and brought us together to share a common experience that helps deepen our learning.”

– Zoe Read, Tupper Secondary School dance educator and Annex participant