Belle Spirale Dance Projects stages two world premieres at Exhale, May 1 and 2
Wen Wei Wang’s Last Breath and a new piece by Alexis Fletcher, Sylvain Senez, and Ariana Barr explore the virtuosity of established performers
SPONSORED POST BY Belle Spirale Dance Projects
Ariana Barr. Photo by Jon McRae
Belle Spirale Dance Projects and Wen Wei Dance, in partnership with New Works, present the compelling double bill Exhale at the Annex on May 1 and 2 at 8 pm.
The evening features a pair of new creations: one from venerable Canadian choreographer Wen Wei Wang, marking the artist’s first Vancouver premiere since returning home from Ballet Edmonton, and a second from Belle Spirale’s artistic directors Alexis Fletcher and Sylvain Senez in collaboration with Ariana Barr.
Wang’s Last Breath features two of Belle Spirale’s most established performers—Fletcher and longtime collaborator Justin Rapaport—alongside renowned mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson, whose voice is woven into the fabric of the creation. The world premiere investigates the delicate textures of human connection, exploring how we touch, breathe together, and navigate the weight of final moments.
Last Breath is grounded by an enormous geometric sculpture devised by Senez. As the work progresses, the dancers climb, spin, and transform the metal framework under lighting designed by Victoria Hunter Bell.
The program concludes with an as-yet untitled new work from Fletcher and Senez, in co-creation with Barr. This piece is an introspective dive which meditates on how a life’s legacy of choices, experiences, and influences culminate as the sum of our present self. The piece is crafted as a solo for Barr, a powerhouse performer in Vancouver’s freelance scene, who balances visceral physicality with emotional sensitivity.
Through film-like vignettes, the work allows audiences to look back over a lifetime. Barr draws on her own experiences, transforming something deeply personal into a universal observation.
For tickets and further information, visit Belle Spirale.
Post sponsored by Belle Spirale Dance Projects.
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