Introducing Ballet Vancouver
Launching in the spring of 2026, Ballet Vancouver aims to re-establish a consistent local presence for professional classical, neoclassical, and narrative ballet performed en pointe. The new company, Ballet Vancouver, will present a regular home season, in addition to national and international touring.
Programming will encompass homecoming performances by locally trained ballet stars, coupled with appearances by renowned international ballet artists and ballet companies. Emerging, diverse local talent will be fostered through outreach programs and choreographic development initiatives.
Introducing Ballet Vancouver
“After recently celebrating the 20th anniversary of my eponymous dance company, Joshua Beamish/MOVETHECOMPANY, I began reflecting upon what was missing from the local dance ecology of Vancouver – my home city,” says internationally acclaimed Vancouver choreographer Joshua Beamish.
“While we have a wealth of exceptional contemporary dance companies and presenters, we don’t have regular access to professional classical ballet en pointe. This moment felt perfectly primed to launch this new Company, to serve and represent the diverse population of Vancouver.”
The company will officially launch in April 2026 with a mixed program featuring four works and starring a line-up of some of North America’s finest artists, including Stephanie Petersen (formerly of American Ballet Theatre and Australian Ballet), Vancouver born-and-raised Benjamin Freemantle (formerly Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet), Julian Hunt (Kidd Pivot), and Jonatan Lujan (Metopera Ballet NYC, Ballet Argentino Julio Bocca, Ballet Zurich), with complete programming and casting details to be announced in January 2026.
The inaugural program will feature the Vancouver premiere of After the Rain by The Royal Ballet Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon, a two-part ballet known for its emotional depth and elegant simplicity, originally performed by New York City Ballet; the world premiere of a new creation choreographed by Beamish, in collaboration with Indigenous artist and fashion designer Yolonda Skelton, which centres a harmonious, thoughtful integration of Indigenous design and ballet; the live Vancouver premiere of Redemption by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, a solo journey of a fallen angel that explores themes of solitude and contemplation, which received its digital premiere at the 2021 PuSh Festival for Performing Arts; and the Vancouver reprise of Wen Wei Wang’s Swan, a modern reimagining of the ballet classic Swan Lake performed en pointe.
“As a proud Coast Salish Stó:lō woman, I am honoured to lead this organization on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. These lands have long been a vibrant hub for storytelling, ceremony, and artistry—since time immemorial,” says Cynthia Robinson, Ballet Vancouver Board President.
“Under the visionary leadership of Joshua Beamish, Ballet Vancouver will carve a place in the global dance landscape, igniting thought, emotion, and cultural dialogue through the creation and presentation of world-class ballet.”
Artistic Advisory Committee
Ballet Vancouver has support from an Artistic Advisory Committee of visionary and influential leaders across the ballet world, including former Principal Dancer and current Associate Artistic Director with the New York City Ballet, Wendy Whelan; Goh Ballet Academy Director and former Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, Chan Hon Goh; Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, Heather Ogden; former First Soloist with the English National Ballet and Principal Dancer with Hong Kong Ballet, Crystal Costa; Executive and Artistic Director, Dancers of Damelahamid, Margaret Grenier; Head of Intensives and Talent Identification at The Royal Ballet School and former Royal Ballet Soloist, Paul Kay; Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s junior company (BRB2), Kit Holder; and Principal Dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Céline Gittens.
Ballet Vancouver’s 2026/27 season will be announced in advance of the company’s premiere performance, in April 2026. They will also host Ballet Vancouver: An Exclusive Preview & VIP Event on November 20, 2025.
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