Following on from its dynamic spring debut performance, Ballet Vancouver opens its 2026/27 inaugural season with Balanchine’s Apollo & Other Works. On stage September 11 & 12 at Vancouver Playhouse the breathtaking triple bill spans extraordinary artistic range and striking virtuosity in a program anchored by internationally acclaimed Principal dancers Heather Ogden of The National Ballet of Canada, and Sasha de Sola and Francesco Gabriele Frola of San Francisco Ballet.
The program also marks the company debuts of former Royal Winnipeg Ballet Second Soloist Amanda Solheim, former Alberta Ballet dancer Mya Kresnyak, former Royal New Zealand Ballet artist Harry Peterson, former Ballet BC artist Jordan Lang and emerging artist Nathan Bear, and former Ballet Edmonton dancers Paula Cobo Botello and Nolan Fahey. Together, the program traces a journey from classical to contemporary en pointe, bringing pointework — and the tutu — back to the Vancouver stage in a compelling display of the athleticism and artistry that defines Ballet Vancouver.
The mixed program includes one of the most performed and revered works in ballet history, Balanchine’s Apollo, a neoclassical staple that has not been performed in Vancouver in nearly four decades; the spellbinding Black Swan Pas de Deux, one of the most iconic scenes from the beloved classic Swan Lake; and the Canadian premiere of Jorma Elo’s modern masterpiece Slice to Sharp, originally created for New York City Ballet, and featuring an unexpected pairing of pulsing contemporary ballet movement with romantic Baroque melodies.
“Our first program of our first full season is, in many ways, a homecoming,” says Ballet Vancouver Artistic Director Joshua Beamish. “Heather Ogden and many of our new company artists began their training right here in Vancouver before ascending to some of the world’s most celebrated stages, and it means so much to welcome them back to the city where their stories began. This program is a statement of what’s possible — that Vancouver can be a place where world-class ballet is created, not just admired from afar. For too long, classically-trained dancers in the city have had to leave home to pursue a professional career, and we’re proud to be changing that.”
Balanchine’s Apollo & Other Works opens with the rare opportunity to see Balanchine’s Apollo. Not seen in Vancouver for 38 years, the neoclassical masterwork offers a technically rigorous ballet detailing the God of Music’s ascent to Mount Olympus, set to a melodic score by Stravinsky.
Black Swan Pas de Deux, follows, choreographed by Marius Petipa, widely regarded as one of the most influential choreographers in ballet history. Famous for the ballerina’s 32 rapid fouetté turns, this thrilling Swan Lake duet, set to Tchaikovsky’s score, will be performed by San Francisco Ballet Principal dancers Sasha de Sola and Francesco Gabriele Frola. Set to Tchaikovsky’s score.
Slice to Sharp, closes the program. The Canadian premiere by Jorna Elo, has been lauded by The New York Times as an “exhilarating exercise in flat-out virtuosity.” Elo, the Finnish-born resident choreographer of Boston Ballet, originally created the work for New York City Ballet’s Diamond Project –– the company’s prestigious choreographic initiative for new works. This high-energy ballet pushes its eight dancers to the edge of possibility.
Balanchine’s Apollo & Other Works, takes the Vancouver Playhouse stage, September 11, 2026 at 7:30pm and September 12, 2026 at 2pm and 7:30pm.
Prior to each performance, Ballet Vancouver will host pre-show talks in the upper lobby of the Vancouver Playhouse. Moderated by Pia Lo, the talks will feature:
Peter Boal, Jorma Elo, Nancy Euverink, and Joshua Beamish on September 11 at 6:45pm
Peter Boal and Joshua Beamish on Saturday, September 12 at 1:45pm
Ainslie Cyopik and Joshua Beamishon Saturday, September 12 at 6:45pm (Ainslie Cyopik danced the role of Terpsichore in Apollo when the ballet was last performed in Vancouver, 38 years ago.)
For more program information and tickets, visit balletvancouver.com