Ballet BC artists take to the stage and beyond in Take Form, September 6 and 7
Event sees eight new creations entirely choreographed, produced, and performed by eight of the company’s dancers
Ballet BC presents Take Form at the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre on September 6 at 7:30 pm and September 7 at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm
DURING THE HEIGHT of the pandemic when theatres were shuttered, Ballet BC artistic director Medhi Walerski came up with a way to keep the company’s dancers busy. Take Form was born, a digital event where the artists did everything that putting on a performance entails, from choreography to marketing to administration. It proved to be so valuable to the dancers and so compelling to audiences that it went live, selling out in 2023 and 2024. Now it’s back for its fourth year with a record-breaking eight new pieces.
The works are created by four dancers making their choreographic debut—Luca Afflitto, Joziah German, Pei Lun Lai, and Kaylin Sturtevant—and four returning voices: Michael Garcia, Orlando Harbutt, Jacalyn Tatro, and Jacob Williams. The artists have also done the lighting, set, and wardrobe design for each piece, expanding not only their creativity but also their practical skills. Among the themes that the works cover this year are identity and rehabilitation, all set within the intimate surroundings of the Newmont Stage.
This year’s edition features VIP seating in the front two centre rows plus a special gift of appreciation from the team for people in those seats.
Already the company has its sights set on moving to a larger venue with more seating and expanded technical possibilities for next year.
Gail Johnson is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.
Related Articles
Headlined by Polaris Music Prize–winning Colombian Canadian artist Lido Pimienta, program spans film, visual arts, dance, literary, and music events
Annual fest’s founders, Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi, step down from leadership roles after more than two decades
Revamp of beloved series features a prix-fixe menu, conversations with community experts, a curated cocktail flight, and exciting small-scale performances
Dancer Sophie Dow and musician Laura Reznek join forces for a free-flowing work performed in intricate papier-mâché masks
Now in its second year, local company will perform at Vancouver Playhouse for the first time
What on EARTH features world premieres of ensemble pieces by Tolentino and artists in residence Naishi Wang and Alvin Collantes that speak to global warming
Performers show their choreographic stuff in work that’s by turns fun, idiosyncratic, and moving
Toronto dancer’s full-length multidisciplinary work is about a woman’s struggle to find her place within a foreign artform
Dancer premieres Rayuela, an electrifying conversation between dancer, guitarist, and singer, at Vancouver International Flamenco Festival
Event sees eight new creations entirely choreographed, produced, and performed by eight of the company’s dancers
Free classes and events take place all afternoon with artists and companies spanning Flamenco Rosario, Van Vogue Jam, Adam Grant Warren, Voirelia Dance Hub, and more
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Ballet BC, and DanceHouse are among 14 performing-arts organizations pushing for major new facility
Arts administrator comes to the company after 17 years at the Arts Club Theatre Company
Gift from Vancouver-based artist and philanthropist will further expand student access to dance education
Choreographed by Alvin Erasga Tolentino, Naishi Wang, and Alvin Collantes, trio of ensemble works examine humanity’s connections to the environment
Kidd Pivot’s funding crunch illustrates "perfect storm" of rising submissions and skyrocketing costs to take shows across the country and the world
Immersive program at company’s Granville Island facility features a guest faculty of more than 20 world-renowned instructors this year
Belle Spirale Dance Projects’ at-home performances take place on cofounders Sylvain Senez and Alexis Fletcher’s patio
Performers from Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and beyond bring diverse traditions to Vancouver Mural Festival’s Mount Pleasant Street Party
Showing at Keep Giving; Cedars and Shells opening event, You say I’m a snake? is a rebellious solo that grew out of her master’s thesis
Lineup spans performances by Compañía Marco Flores and La Sporée / Sarah Bronsard, masterclasses, free outdoor showcases, and more
Diverse performances range from butoh dancing to taiko drumming to circus arts
Nonprofit’s founder Ralph Escamillan dives into ballroom’s importance to the queer community ahead of event presented with Vancouver Pride Society
Sophie Dow and Laura Reznek, Shakti Dance, Daina Ashbee, and Company 605 are among the offerings on next season’s roster
Backyard performances hosted by Alexis Fletcher and Sylvain Senez to feature acclaimed German dance artists, Opera Unbound mezzo-sopranos, and more
Residencies, studio showings, and other presentations fill the roster at multifaceted organization
African and Peruvian folk dance are also on the menu at the annual presentation on Granville Island
Cultivating emerging talent and making dance affordable are just some of the reasons Julie-anne Saroyan brought back the popular program of short works on a tiny stage
Outdoor performances take place in the nude at Wreck Beach, the culmination of a nine-day workshop hosted by Kokoro cofounders Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi
Founders’ Council member Jane McLennan’s gift gives dancers salary increases and unprecedented 52-week contracts over 10 years