Six Reasons to See DUSK

For Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, Obsidian began with the music. The choreographic duo discovered 1920s piano compositions by George Gurdjieff and Thomas de Hartmann, a somewhat unlikely musical pair with roots in Armenia, Greece (Gurdjieff) and Ukraine (de Hartmann). Gurdjieff was more of a spiritual leader than a musician, and together they created an anthology of sacred songs often intended for dance which made them notable contributors to the genre of mystic minimalism. At DUSK, their seldom-played compositions will be performed live on stage by Vancouver-based pianist Perri Lo. A rare and special creative collaboration not to be missed. 

In 2010, France-born, Netherlands-based Medhi Walerski arrived in Vancouver for the first time as a choreographer, commissioned by Ballet BC to create a work he titled Pétite Cérémonie. In the 15 years since, that piece continues to be performed around the world in countries including the US, Japan, and Georgia. In addition to taking on the role of Artistic Director of the company in 2020, Medhi has created five more world premieres for Ballet BC, each garnering wide acclaim from audiences near and far. As we type, he’s in the studio creating his sixth premiere for Ballet BC, which Vancouver fans will have the good fortune of being able to witness first at DUSK. Expect sophisticated choreography that embraces intricate timing and inventive partnering by our extraordinary dancers. 

Though he passed away tragically at the young age of 30, Jeff Buckley made an indelible impact on the world of music. The storied American guitarist and singer-songwriter released only one studio album, Grace, in 1994, which Rolling Stone included in its 500 greatest albums ever list. Critical acclaim for his work only grew following his death, with rock frontmen Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy citing him as an influence. In Marco Goecke’s electric Woke Up Blind, two of Buckley’s songs—”You and I” and “The Way Young Lovers Do”—show two sides of the musician’s virtuosity, one subdued and haunting, the other highlighted by frenetic guitar licks. It’s the perfect match for Goecke’s idiosyncratic choreographic universe, full of highly complex compositions and timing where the dancers are often tasked with keeping their own rhythm. 

Ballet BC alumni Alexis Fletcher and Justin Rapaport are back in the house! Both former dancers with the company, Alexis and Justin have joined Medhi in the studio for his creation process as rehearsal directors. Vancouver-based, Alexis was a dancer with Ballet BC for 14 years and has continued her career in dance as a collaborative independent artist and Co-Artistic Director of Belle Spirale Dance Projects. Justin Rapaport, originally from Miami, Florida, spent six years with Ballet BC from 2016 – 2022. His choreographic work for the dancer-led Take Form made him a finalist in the 2021 Copenhagen International Choreography Competition, and he took home the Danish Dance Theater Award. Rehearsal directors are responsible for coordinating and overseeing rehearsals of the work and help to maintain the choreographer’s artistic vision. We’re thrilled to continue working with Alexis and Justin in this capacity as Medhi’s latest creation for the company takes shape.

Outside of the world of dance, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber—partners in life and work—share a deep passion for film. The pair list Maggie Gyllenhaal and Terrence Malick among their recent collaborators, and have choreographed and appeared in a variety of cinematic projects, keeping them very busy between dance commissions. Together they starred in a documentary centred on Bobbi’s career and journey with the Batsheva Dance Company, Bobbi Jene (2018), as well as Boaz Yakin’s feature film Aviva (2020). Their latest full-length dance film, Waiting Places, is currently streaming on PBS.

“Smith is an extraordinary dancer…but she’s an even better choreographer. One of the great pleasures of moviegoing is watching bodies in motion, and she fills Yakin’s self-exploration with artists exquisitely writhing, gliding, clapping, stomping, vamping and contorting in perfect rhythm.” – Rolling Stone

The 2024/25 season was the most successful performance season in the history of Ballet BC—nearly 40 years! Thank you for your endless support and for coming out to the theatre to celebrate the power of dance. Across Take Form, DAWN, ZENITH, DUSK, and RWB’s Nutcracker, more than 32,000 of you saw a Ballet BC presentation this year in Vancouver alone. Those in the audience at DUSK will be the first to hear all the incredible things in store for the all-new 2025/26 season curated by Artistic Director Medhi Walerski. Trust us, you’re going to want to renew those seats! Mark your calendars, subscriptions will be available as of Wednesday, May 14.