Gravity & Other Myths
Ten Thousand Hours
FRI OCT 23 8PM, SAT OCT 24 2PM, SAT OCT 24 8PM
BAA - Boston Arts Academy Theater
Ballet BC
Cutler Majestic Theatre
"Visually stunning and emotionally profound" (PBS), Vancouver's Ballet BC arrives with a program that moves through tenderness, ecstasy, and raw human longing.
Under artistic director Medhi Walerski, a veteran of the legendary Nederlands Dans Theater, 20 dancers bring precision and a rare openness: they share movement that asks questions, rather than delivering answers. Ballet BC treats creation itself as its reason for being, and it shows: these performances, and these stunning works, will be a highlight of the season.
“…stunningly danced by the 20-strong company, whose style is at once contemporary and classical, finely shaped and extraordinarily fluid.”
The Observer
Program Details
SWAY
World Premiere: November 1 2019, NDT 2, The Hague
Ballet BC Premiere: May 9, 2024
Choreography
Medhi Walerski
Rehearsal Director
Emily Chessa
Music
Composition by Adrien Cronet
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, Chorale Prelude BWV 659, by Johann Sebastian Bach
Transcribed by Ferruccio Busoni
Performed by Víkingur Ólafsson
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH under license from Universal Music Canada Inc.
Lighting Design
Lisette van der Linden & Pierre Pontvianne
Costume Design
Medhi Walerski
Set Design
Medhi Walerski
Performers
To be announced.
SWAY embodies the essence of hope, capturing its delicate yet resilient nature. Inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson, the creation marked choreographer Medhi Walerski's first collaboration with Belgian composer Adrien Cronet. The piece is intimate, mysterious, and even elusive. It demands a great deal of attention from the dancers as they move through a fluid movement and repetition journey that echoes the spirit of collective optimism.
SWAY
World Premiere: November 1 2019, NDT 2, The Hague
Ballet BC Premiere: May 9, 2024
Choreography
Medhi Walerski
Rehearsal Director
Emily Chessa
Music
Composition by Adrien Cronet
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, Chorale Prelude BWV 659, by Johann Sebastian Bach
Transcribed by Ferruccio Busoni
Performed by Víkingur Ólafsson
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH under license from Universal Music Canada Inc.
Lighting Design
Lisette van der Linden & Pierre Pontvianne
Costume Design
Medhi Walerski
Set Design
Medhi Walerski
Performers
To be announced.
SWAY embodies the essence of hope, capturing its delicate yet resilient nature. Inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson, the creation marked choreographer Medhi Walerski's first collaboration with Belgian composer Adrien Cronet. The piece is intimate, mysterious, and even elusive. It demands a great deal of attention from the dancers as they move through a fluid movement and repetition journey that echoes the spirit of collective optimism.
Obsidian
World Premiere May 8 2025, Ballet BC
Choreography
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Rehearsal Director
Alexis Fletcher
Music
Armenian Song
Kurd Shepherd Dance
Song of the Aisors
Song of the Fisherwomen
The Struggle of the Magicians (#3)
Composed by George Ivanovich Gurdjieff and Thomas de Hartmann
Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz, Germany, publisher and copyright owner.
Pianist
Perri Lo
Lighting Design
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Associate Lighting Design
Matthew Piton
Costume Design
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Associate Costume Design
Kate Burrows
Set Design
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Performers
TBC
Dedicated to Matt Nebel
Obsidian
World Premiere May 8 2025, Ballet BC
Choreography
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Rehearsal Director
Alexis Fletcher
Music
Armenian Song
Kurd Shepherd Dance
Song of the Aisors
Song of the Fisherwomen
The Struggle of the Magicians (#3)
Composed by George Ivanovich Gurdjieff and Thomas de Hartmann
Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz, Germany, publisher and copyright owner.
Pianist
Perri Lo
Lighting Design
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Associate Lighting Design
Matthew Piton
Costume Design
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Associate Costume Design
Kate Burrows
Set Design
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber
Performers
TBC
Dedicated to Matt Nebel
BOLERO X
World Premiere - November 2, 2023, Ballet BC
Choreography
Shahar Binyamini
Rehearsal Directors
Emily Chessa, Sarah Pippin
Music
Boléro M. 81, by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Berlin Philharmoniker and Pierre Boulez
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH under license from Universal Music Canada Inc.
Lighting Design
Shahar Binyamini
Associate Lighting Design
Matthew Piton
Costume Design
Shahar Binyamini
Associate Costume Design
Kate Burrows
In a thrilling display of strength and precision, the full company takes the stage for Shahar Binyamini's epic BOLERO X. Set to Ravel's 1928 masterpiece, the work is a bold exploration of unity, individuality, and power—culminating in a breathtaking crescendo of sound and movement.
The creation of BOLERO X was made possible through the generous support of The Azrieli Foundation, Josh Pekarsky and Marla Guralnick in honour of Arlene Gladstone; Karen James; Trudy and Dan Pekarsky; Arlene James; The Oasis Foundation; Shirley Barnett; Roberta Beiser; and Jeanie Wexler.
BOLERO X
World Premiere - November 2, 2023, Ballet BC
Choreography
Shahar Binyamini
Rehearsal Directors
Emily Chessa, Sarah Pippin
Music
Boléro M. 81, by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Berlin Philharmoniker and Pierre Boulez
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH under license from Universal Music Canada Inc.
Lighting Design
Shahar Binyamini
Associate Lighting Design
Matthew Piton
Costume Design
Shahar Binyamini
Associate Costume Design
Kate Burrows
In a thrilling display of strength and precision, the full company takes the stage for Shahar Binyamini's epic BOLERO X. Set to Ravel's 1928 masterpiece, the work is a bold exploration of unity, individuality, and power—culminating in a breathtaking crescendo of sound and movement.
The creation of BOLERO X was made possible through the generous support of The Azrieli Foundation, Josh Pekarsky and Marla Guralnick in honour of Arlene Gladstone; Karen James; Trudy and Dan Pekarsky; Arlene James; The Oasis Foundation; Shirley Barnett; Roberta Beiser; and Jeanie Wexler.
Featured Artists
Videos
Ballet BC | SWAY Trailer, Medhi Walerski
Photos
Artists of Ballet BC in SWAY by Medhi Walerski. Photo: Millissa Martin
Ballet BC's Sarah Pippin and Rae Srivastava in Obsidian by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schreiber. Photo: Millissa Martin
Ballet BC in Obsidian by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schreiber. Photo: Millissa Martin
Ballet BC artists Luca Afflitto & Jacalyn Tatro in SWAY by Medhi Walerski. Photo: Millissa Martin
Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre Information
The 2026/27 Dance Series is generously supported by
Leslie & Howard Appleby, Crescendo Donor Advised Fund, and Royal Little Family Foundation.
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