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Roll on 2026!
A look forward into the coming year...
A look forward into the coming year...
12.30.2025
2026 is just round the corner. The first half of the year promises to be full and varied. A strong colour from now until May is the creation of Trap (see photos). The piece has started to come to life during its first chunk of rehearsals. Studio time has been intensive as actors have focused on the script whilst dancers have constructed choreography with and around the actors. We are exploring, learning and laughing a lot, which in my books, makes a good process. I’m enjoying collaborating with skilled and intelligent creative collaborators and performers.
Performances:
7 March 2026, Schaufenster Jungspund, St Gallen
8-10 May 2026, tanzHaus, Bern TRAP info
Another strong colour in 2026 will be the completion of A Brief Collection of Moments, a ballet commission from the Utah Metropolitan Ballet company. Composer Dylan Findley has completed the music score for a full orchestra and soprano soloist with lyrics written by poet Darlene Young. Now visual artists Michelle Nixon and Justin Wheatley are together creating an original artwork which will be projected onto the cyc during the performance. In order to expose their process, they will photograph each brush stroke and then cut the images into a film. The artwork will imperceptible appear one brush stroke at a time throughout the ballet. I’m looking forward to developing the choreography with the visual image in February. Then in April, the orchestra and sopranist will be added into the mix. I’m loving working with so many other artists, grappling to find a common language between our different disciplines. Performances: 23 & 24 April 2026, Covey Center for the Arts
Aerial dance will also be a strong feature in 2026. Last September I had the pleasure of stepping out of the directors seat and back into the harness. Lisa Lareida is directing Joanna Hermes and I in an aerial dance duet, Orbit. Rehearsals now continue and the piece will be performed in the BETA Stage Festival on 27 & 29 March 2026. I am also choreographing an aerial dance piece, Mise en Abyme, for the closing of the BETA Stage Festival, performed on 3 April 2026. Then in summer 2026, American university students from BYU will again join me in the Grosse Halle, Bern, to learn aerial dance skills. I will also use that week to research ideas for my next big aerial dance performance which will take place in the Grosse Halle in 2027.
Between all these projects, I will be working with the other festival organisers to ensure a smooth running of the next BETA Stage Festival which runs from 20 March until 3 April 2026. As part of Junge Buehne Bern’s 20 year celebration, there will be a large production on 25 June until 30 June 2026 in the Grosse Halle, with two TKKG groups (theatre knows no boundaries). Along with the JBB team, I am working with 50 young people with international backgrounds to create this piece. Also in June, Akar Studio will have a performance in Frei Gymi. I will choreograph for this event, including a piece with BewegGrund’s youth dance group.
I hope to see you all somewhere soon. Have a good start in 2026!
Looking for a unique choreographic collaboration?
With a diverse range of experience in choreographing for dance and theatre companies with professional, international, cross-generational and inclusive casts, Vanessa Cook offers a positive partnership.