Ballet Vancouver will launch its inaugural 2026–2027 season with an ambitious triple bill featuring internationally acclaimed dancers, a Canadian premiere, and the return of a ballet not seen in Vancouver for nearly four decades.
Balanchine’s Apollo & Other Works takes the stage at the Vancouver Playhouse on September 11 and 12, 2026.
Leading the cast is Heather Ogden, a principal dancer with The National Ballet of Canada and an alumna of Richmond’s Academy of Dance. Her appearance marks a homecoming for the Vancouver-trained artist, whose career has taken her to some of the world’s most celebrated stages.
The program is anchored by George Balanchine’s Apollo, a landmark of the neoclassical repertoire that follows the young god of music on his ascent to Mount Olympus. Set to music by Igor Stravinsky, the work returns to Vancouver for the first time in 38 years. It will also be the first Balanchine ballet presented in the city since Miami City Ballet’s 2015 visit.
Ballet Vancouver’s production is being staged by Peter Boal, artistic director of Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Ballet and a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet.
The evening will also feature the Black Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake, performed by San Francisco Ballet principal dancers Sasha de Sola and Francesco Gabriele Frola.
Completing the triple bill is the Canadian premiere of Jorma Elo’s Slice to Sharp. Originally created for New York City Ballet’s Diamond Project in 2006, the contemporary work combines pulsing movement with an unexpected selection of Baroque music.
Together, the three works will take audiences from the foundations of classical ballet to the athleticism and experimentation of contemporary choreography.
Performances are scheduled for Friday, September 11 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Pre-show talks will be held before all three performances.
