Ballet Edmonton: Mixed Repertoire

Ballet Edmonton presents a mixed repertoire of three contemporary ballets, from three emerging choreographers. Only the Window, choreographed by Ihsan Rustem, was inspired by the personal experiences of the Ballet Edmonton artists. It asks how we cope when we only have part of the story. How do our minds fill in the blanks when confronted with mystery, when we can only see one small window of the truth? Valei-me, choreographed by Diego Ramalho, is a contemplation on how we are influenced by where we first “belonged.” Brazilian music drives the narrative structure of this emotional and energetic piece. Finally, Persistence of Memory, choreographed by Wen Wei Wang: a piece created in the isolation of the pandemic, when the dancers formed a close cohort. This performance, originally created as a film and reimaged for the stage, inquires about our innate need for human contact. Each piece, which lasts 20-30 minutes, has thoughtful lighting and sound design, and is a unique spin on traditional ballet. All of the pieces incorporate the full company of ten dancers and were created with input from the dancers themselves.

When it comes to pushing boundaries in Canadian dance, Ballet Edmonton is leading the charge. Ballet Edmonton is a contemporary ballet ensemble of ten company dancers under the leadership of celebrated choreographer and Artistic Director Wen Wei Wang. The company creates and commissions original work each season from a variety of choreographic voices, prioritizing diverse and female creators. They ensure that their productions are affordable and inclusive, and reflective of the world in which we live, drawing from wide-ranging human experiences and voices.