Photo by Luis Luque
Hold onto your pointe shoes, darlings – Canada’s Ballet BC are pirouetting their way back to the UK this spring, and it’s not just any old return. Oh no – this is a double whammy of contemporary dance deliciousness, featuring works by two of the world’s top choreographers: the spellbinding Johan Inger and the ever-astonishing Crystal Pite.
They’ll be gracing the stage of Newcastle Theatre Royal on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 May, and according to their artistic director Medhi Walerski (who may as well wear a sparkly crown with that CV), we’re in for something very special indeed.
“When we toured the UK back in 2018,” he whispered to the press (okay, it was a press release, but let me have my moment), “we bagged an Olivier nomination for Best Dance Production. This time? We’re going all in – two world-renowned choreographers, both close to the company’s heart. I couldn’t be prouder to present Johan Inger’s PASSING and a brand-new take on Crystal Pite’s Frontier.”
And get this – PASSING features all 20 of Ballet BC’s dazzling dancers and first graced the stage during the 2022/23 season. Expect big emotions, sweeping movement, and maybe even a tear or two. It’s theatrical, it’s epic, it’s so Theatre Village.
If you’re anywhere near Newcastle, get your tickets sharpish – this is one delivery you don’t want to miss!
“PASSING is a monumental work,” says Medhi, who took over the helm at Ballet BC in 2020 after a dancing career with Paris Opera Ballet, Ballet du Rhin and more than a decade at Nederlands Dans Theater.
“It takes audiences on a very human and emotional journey. It talks about love, birth, death and everything in between. Johan was inspired by a real-world catastrophe, the volcanic eruption in the Canary Island of La Palma and he is inspired too by our relationships to one another.”
As a dancer with NDT, Medhi performed in the second iteration of Pite’s Frontier so was keen for the four-time Olivier-nominated Canadian choreographer to re-imagine the work with Ballet BC.
“Frontier talks about the unknown and the characterisation of dark matter,” Medhi explains. “There are two worlds in the piece – the world of the visible people and then the shadows.”
Frontier also features the full Ballet BC company plus four young dancers from the London-based Rambert School, whose professional touring company most recently visited Newcastle with their production of Death Trap which received rave reviews in 2024.
After decades as a dancer and choreographer, Medhi is enjoying the challenge of his role as artistic director. “It needs multiple hats,” he laughs. “One of my responsibilities is to curate programming but I’m also very involved in the studio.”
“Dance Consortium supporting the tour means we can be on the road for five weeks. This allows us to grow, to keep presenting the work, and to share what we do and what we love with more people. It’s pretty incredible to go all over the country.”
“I love the UK, I love socialising, I love the sophistication,” he says. “I see people going out after work to pubs or to see a show, the connection to culture is amazing. I love wandering around looking at the architecture and going to art galleries and shows …and I like Marks and Spencer’s cookies!
Medhi is eager for British audiences to experience Ballet BC whether for the first time or on a return visit. His partner is British so French-born Medhi knows the UK well but shares that many of the companys dancers have never visited before and are very excited.
“When I was touring the UK as a dancer, the audiences were very enthusiastic, they have a deep knowledge of dance, they really appreciate it, and they have an opinion. On this tour, I can promise them they are going to see 24 incredible, generous, versatile dancers and beautiful works by two of the greatest choreographers of our generation. We can’t wait!”
Ballet BC plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tue 27 & Wed 28 May 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.
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