Ballet BC has announced its season finale program UNITY, including FOR GLASS, a world?premiere by internationally acclaimed choreographic duo Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, is on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for four performances, May 7 to 9. Audiences will experience a powerful work that Deepening Ballet BC’s ongoing artistic partnership with two of contemporary dance’s most daring creative voices, the powerful work highlights the company’s continued commitment to pushing boundaries and forging new artistic terrain.
Dancer Imani Frazier Photo: Marcus Eriksson.
The full-evening of dance harnesses Ballet BC’s full company of 20 dancers while Philip Glass’ String Quartet No. 3 “Mishima” (1985) and String Quartet No. 5 (1991) – two of his most significant works – are performed live on stage by the Vancouver-based Microcosmos Quartet; Marc Destrubé, John Marcus, Tawnya Popoff, and Rebecca Wenham.
FOR GLASS, named in honour of the renowned minimalist composer, marks the highly anticipated full?length follow?up to Smith and Schraiber’s celebrated 2025 debut with Ballet BC, Obsidian. With a movement language shaped by years dancing with Batsheva Dance Company and infused with their own deeply expressive style, the duo’s work has been highly praised.
“I am always inspired by the work of Bobbi and Or, and am thrilled Vancouver gets another opportunity to experience it, following an incredible run of global successes,” says Artistic Director Medhi Walerski. “Their approach to creation is fresh and exciting—deeply dedicated to their craft, they bring openness, care, and an exceptional work ethic to the way they collaborate with the dancers in the studio. Their choreographic voice is diverse, blending a strong movement language, theatricality, beautiful musicality, and thoughtful composition to create a piece that is both powerful and sensitive. It’s the perfect finale for a remarkable season for Ballet BC.”
The powerhouse duo have an impressive body of experience; Bobbi Jene Smith is an alumnus of the Juilliard School, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. From 2005-2014, she was a dancer with the Batsheva Dance Company.
Or Schraiber is a dancer, choreographer, actor, and filmmaker. Also a former dancer with the Batsheva Dance Company, he studied acting at the Stella Adler Studio, and performed in the Broadway production of The Band’s Visit (1st U.S. tour). Together, Smith and Schraiber choreographed the Off-Broadway production of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at NYC’s Lucille Lortel Theater in 2023. Their film work includes Boaz Yakin’s Aviva (2019), Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind (2025), and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! (2026).
They are founding members of The Broken Theater and the American Modern Opera Company, and have choreographed original works for some of the world’s finest dance companies including the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, Ballet BC, Los Angeles Dance Project, the Batsheva Ensemble, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, and others.
The world premiere of FOR GLASS takes place May 7 at 7:30pm, May 8 at 7:30pm and May 9 at 1:30 and 7:30pm at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street. For tickets and more information visit balletbc.com. Arts for All Seating starts at $19 thanks to the generous support of Simons.