Royal Winnipeg Ballet unveils 2026 B.C. tour culminating in Vancouver with Carmina Burana and T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods

Exhilarating double bill featuring a virtuosic classic and a historic West Coast premiere lands here February 9 and 10, 2026

Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet has just announced the presentation of an electrifying double header as part of its 2026 B.C. tour. The monumental favourite Carmina Burana will be featured alongside the evocative West Coast premiere of the Indigenous-led T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods, onstage at The Centre Vancouver on February 9 and 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

A signature work in Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s repertoire, Carmina Burana fuses bold, athletic movement with Carl Orff’s thunderous and evocative score to create a visceral experience that transcends traditional storytelling. Argentine choreographer Mauricio Wainrot’s artfully staged vignettes capture the spirit of the orchestral masterpiece.

Carmina Burana was originally commissioned by the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium in 1998, and given its Canadian premiere by Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 2002. This high-octane work demands everything of its dancers as they move as one powerful organism, showcasing the artists’ sensual, explosive vitality from its iconic opener “Fortuna I”—frequently heard in Hollywood film scores and ad jingles—through to the stirring finale “Fortuna II”.

*T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods.* Photo by Daniel Crump

T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods marks the first time in the company’s history that the entire roster of creators is led by Indigenous artists. Choreographed by Cameron Fraser-Monroe, the production is based on a traditional tale from the creator’s home—the Tla’amin Nation in southwestern B.C.—and honours the rich legacy of oral tradition.

Narrated in English and Ayajuthem by 94-year old Elder Elsie Paul, the story follows a fearless young woman who sets out to rescue her sister from T’əl, a dark figure who steals children under the cover of night. The show features a score by Juno Award-nominated Two-Spirit cellist and composer Cris Derksen, and stunning costumes by New York–based Navajo designer Asa Benally.

This marks Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s first tour to Vancouver, aside from its annual Nutcracker presentation with Ballet BC, since the critically acclaimed premiere of Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation in 2016. Early bird tickets are now on sale, and are 20 percent off until October 31 with code RWB20.

Tickets are available here and more information is at RWB.org.

Post sponsored by Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

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