Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Mar 4 5
The centrepiece of our 40th anniversary season, this era-defining weekend captures the essence of what Ballet BC has become: rooted in legacy, deeply collaborative, and fearless in its pursuit of bold, boundary-pushing creation. Across two programs, five distinct works come together to create a live dance experience like no other.
At Thursday and Friday evening performances, we present the North American premiere of William Forsythe’s Undertainment and unveil a world premiere by Artistic Director Medhi Walerski, alongside the anticipated return of Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber’s Obsidian.
Undertainment
William Forsythe
The work of the incomparable William Forsythe returns to the Ballet BC stage with Undertainment. Called “fiendishly fascinating” (The Guardian) and “a mesmerizing new work” (New York Times), the visionary 2025 piece for 16 dancers starts with a signature toolbox of improvisational prompts, creating a structural order within which the performers can explore. Intended as a musical event as much as anything else, the dancers serve flexibly as instrumentalists, each with their own responsibilities and expertise in a self-generated system of sound and movement. A fresh and unmissable portrayal of commitment, risk, and imagination from a truly legendary creator.
WorkObsidian
Bobbi Jene Smith
Or Schraiber
Music
George Gurdjieff
Thomas de Hartmann
Obsidian returns—an arresting creation from Ballet BC’s newly-appointed Resident Choreographers and voracious dancemakers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber. Set to a score of rare and riveting 1920s piano compositions by George Gurdjieff and Thomas de Hartmann performed live on stage, the work unfolds through magnetic partnering, searing solos, and fiercely committed physicality. Infused with elements of traditional folk dance and movement language stemming from the duo’s Batsheva roots, Obsidian pulses with tension and intimacy.
WorkNew Walerski
Medhi Walerski
Ballet BC Artistic Director and French choreographer Medhi Walerski unveils his ninth world premiere for the company, and final as its leader—an eagerly anticipated work that marks the culmination of a defining artistic chapter and the curation of a visionary and significant repertoire that is both fearless and unmistakable. The new creation promises to showcase the qualities that continue to highlight his artistic identity: bold imagination, rigorous craft, and an unwavering belief in the potential of the human body and the power of connection.
