Ballet BC Annex offers an invaluable opportunity for schools and communities across BC to engage in world-class dance and educational programming.
In fall 2025, eight dancers from Vancouver’s Arts Umbrella and Modus Operandi will perform two new creations by choreographers Alexis Fletcher and Vanessa Goodman.
Hear from Alexis and Vanessa on their creative processes and their experience working with our Ballet BC Annex dancers.
What was the inspiration for your Ballet BC Annex creation?
Alexis Fletcher: The dancers and I have been thinking about how, as we move through our lifetime, we pass through many thresholds; for instance between childhood and adolescence, adolescence and young adulthood, then many different stages of our adult lives into the winter years of our lives.
During these moments of change and evolution, we must leave parts of ourselves behind in order to emerge fully into the next phase of life. Ultimately, when we leave this lifetime, what traces of ourselves do we leave in the world?
Vanessa Goodman: “Rosa” is part of the title of the album by Luis Pestana, whose innovative sonic composition comprises the first half of this work. I felt profoundly inspired by the nuanced tone and intricate layering of his music. As I immersed myself in the album, I experienced a transformative sense of time that navigated through the universal themes of birth, love, death, grief, joy, and community.
In our creative process, we have actively sought to explore a sense of time that exists within the body, aiming to alleviate the feelings of isolation many experience in today’s fast-paced world.
Can you tell us about how you approached the creation process for the new work?
VG: In creating “Rosa,” I engaged in a collaborative process with each artist, employing generative performance systems that enabled us to develop a specific vernacular. This collaborative approach not only captured the distinct individuality of each artist involved but also incorporated the subtle nuances of my own physical expression.
AF: This piece was inspired by found text, which I used to create the base movement phrases for the piece. These were prepared before I came into the studio, and I had also already been inspired by the gorgeous tracks from both loscil, and from Dreams We’ve Had.
I love using text because writing has always been a huge part of my creative practice and I find that it grounds the process in a shared and tangible language, while also leaving room for each individual to respond to the text in their own ways.
Dancers of Ballet BC Annex in Once by Alexis Fletcher
What has your experience working with Ballet BC Annex dancers been like?
AF: The growth of these dancers in such a short period of time is not only a joy to behold, it has also been deeply moving and inspiring. During this time of challenge and growth, they have been open, generous, hard working, kind and playful. They have trusted me to push them, and they have done nothing but blossom. Having grown up in this company, dancing here for 14 years, and now being a Guest Rehearsal Director, Ballet BC is my home in many ways. It is a huge honour to be welcomed back as an emerging choreographer.
VG: This group is absolutely fantastic. They are not only generous and kind but also exceptionally hard-working, making collaboration a true pleasure. Being invited to work with the Company feels like a dream come true, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a talented and inspiring team.
How does the music, lighting, or set design support your artistic vision?
VG: The first half of the work is sonically created by Luis Pestana from the album Pano Rosa. The second half of the work is sung by one of the dancers, Ry Jackson. The title of the work is “Song to the Siren,” inspired by the 1967 poem by Larry Beckett and originally sung by Tim Buckley.
Kate Burrows (Costume Designer) and I were inspired by the starkness of the work’s opening and wanted a costume that could show strong, clean lines in construction, then soften with fabrication and sheerness to reveal flesh and highlight humanity.
Gillian Hanemayer (Lighting Designer) and I wanted to find a lighting environment that went from a cooling contrast and isolation to a warmer tenor, sharing a more tender resolution.
AF: Lighting and visual design is a very large part of how I think about creating, and something that I am envisioning even from before I enter the studio. It is such a pleasure to work with Gillian on this and I cannot wait to share what we make together!
I have been listening to this beautiful music, by Loscil and by Dreams We’ve Had, for some time now. I love the rich textures they create sonically, and I love the way the layers of sounds, rhythms and subtle melodies create an opening for the imagination.
Ballet BC Annex will perform on tour throughout the province in fall 2025. Find out more about upcoming performances near you.
Learn more
