Ballet Vancouver, the city’s newest professional ballet company, will present its inaugural program, After the Rain & Other Works, on stage April 23–25, 2026 at the Vancouver Playhouse.
The program brings together dancers from American Ballet Theatre and some of Canada’s finest artists. It celebrates Vancouver’s global identity and its rich contributions to the art form.
Highlights include the Vancouver premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain, marking the first time the acclaimed Royal Ballet Artistic Associate’s work has ever been performed for Vancouver audiences. The evening also features the return of two works that made their world premieres in the city: Wen Wei Wang’s Swan and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Redemption. Completing the bill is the world premiere of Winterbourne, co-created by Ballet Vancouver’s Artistic Director Joshua Beamish and Gitxsan Indigenous fashion designer Yolonda Skelton.
“We are proud to present a thrilling mixed program that celebrates the diversity of our community, showcasing works by some of the most accomplished and recognized choreographers in the ballet world today,” says Beamish. “Informed by a common thread of renewal and transformation, all four works speak to the innovation and impact of Vancouver: Wheeldon’s After the Rain relates to our seasonal weather changes and climate, Ochoa’s Redemption and Wang’s Swan originally premiered to Vancouver audiences, and my new work with Yolonda Skelton, Winterbourne, imagines a version of ballet that could only be created in this place and on these lands, inviting genuine collaboration between ballet and Indigenous values and perspectives. Together, these works honour ballet’s legacy, while celebrating its role as a living, evolving art form.”
The program opens with Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain, a two-part ballet celebrated for its emotional depth and elegant simplicity. Set to the minimalist music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, the work was commissioned by New York City Ballet in 2005 and first performed by ballet icon Wendy Whelan, who now serves on Ballet Vancouver’s Artistic Advisory Committee.
The piece is especially beloved for its intimate pas de deux, which offers a tender portrait of love and vulnerability. It has since been performed by major companies worldwide and is widely regarded as a defining work of neoclassical ballet.
Wheeldon, currently Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet, is one of the most sought-after choreographers of his generation. The Vancouver premiere will feature an outstanding cast including Jonatan Lujan, Stephanie Petersen, Benjamin Freemantle, Patrick Frenette, Betsy McBride, SunMi Park, and Joseph Markey, with casting varying slightly by performance date.
Wen Wei Wang’s Swan reimagines the classic Swan Lake through a contemporary lens. Commissioned by Ballet BC in 2016, the piece blends classical ballet with modern movement to explore themes of poise and grace. Set to a striking soundscape that mixes Tchaikovsky’s original score, Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan,” and electronic design by Sammy Chien, Swan will be performed by six dancers: Freemantle and Hunt, Frenette and Petersen, and Markey and Park.
Vancouver-based Wang has created works for major Canadian ballet companies and his own Wen Wei Dance. He previously served as Artistic Director of Ballet Edmonton from 2018 to 2024.
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Redemption receives its live Vancouver premiere, having first been presented digitally in 2021 as part of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. This contemplative solo explores solitude and penance through the journey of a fallen angel. Originally created on Ballet Vancouver’s Joshua Beamish, the work will be performed by Joseph Markey on April 23 and 24, and by Hunt on April 25.
The program will conclude with the world premiere of Beamish and Skelton’s Winterbourne, which centres a harmonious, thoughtful integration of Indigenous design and ballet. Set to a score by Cree composer Cris Derksen, Winterbourne will be performed by 12 local and international artists. It explores the interconnectedness of all living things, embodied through Beamish’s choreography with visual design by Skelton. A Gitxsan Indigenous fashion designer, Skelton blends traditional Northwest Coast artistic traditions with contemporary fashion, whose pieces draw inspiration from traditional patterns, symbols, and narratives that resonate with her cultural background. With a deep respect for the environment and a commitment to sustainability, Skelton has established an ethos that not only prioritizes ecological integrity but also celebrates the heritage and traditions of her Indigenous roots.
Ballet Vancouver will host pre-show talks ahead of all three performances in the upper lobby of the Vancouver Playhouse at 6:45pm. Opening night, Thursday, April 23, will feature Joshua Beamish & Heather Ogden, The National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancer and Ballet Vancouver Artistic Advisory Committee Member; Friday, April 24 will feature Joshua Beamish & Yolonda Skelton; and Saturday, April 25 will feature Joshua Beamish & Wen Wei Wang.
For tickets and more information, visit balletvancouver.com
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