Waihona Kino (Body Archive) brings two internationally recognized Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) artists to Banff Centre. Dance and visual art join forces through the work of choreographer and dancer (Tau) Peter Rockford Espiritu and cultural bearer Marques Hanalei Marzan. Rounding out the team is Hawai'i-born director Roberta Uno and award-winning projection designer Joan Osato.
The presentation is the first of two performances in the First Looks series, culminating this summer’s Dance Production Residency. After three weeks of development, experimentation, and technical fine-tuning, a pair of unique pieces will meet audiences, capping off the participants’ creative journey.
It’s a rare chance to see the next great dance show before they hit international stages—don't miss yours.
See the other piece in First Looks: ON SECOND THOUGHT
Dance is generously supported by the Alice and Betty Schultz Scholarships Endowment Fund for Dance and Music and the Arnold Spohr Distinguished Guest Artist Endowment for Dance.
About the Program Faculty
Medhi Walerski
Medhi Walerski was appointed Artistic Director of Ballet BC in July 2020. His leadership tenure has been highlighted by an artist-centred approach and deep commitment to creation and innovation, an expanded global touring program, increased dancer compensation and equity, a world-renowned brand identity, and unprecedented audience growth.
Raised in France, Walerski initially trained in Normandy with Laurie Bokobza and Christine Caroly before joining the Conservatoire Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. He danced at the Paris Opera Ballet and the Ballet du Rhin before joining the Nederlands Dans Theater in 2001. For more than a decade, he was an integral part of the company, contributing to the creative, innovative style that NDT is famed for. Walerski was awarded the prestigious Dutch dance prize VSCD Zwaan in 2013.
Walerski has worked closely with many renowned choreographers, creating alongside and performing works by Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Crystal Pite, Johan Inger, and Wayne McGregor among others. Walerski’s choreographic debut was in 2008 for NDT 2. Since then, he has created numerous acclaimed works for NDT and Ballet BC including Petite Cérémonie (2011), Chamber (2012), GARDEN (2016), Silent Tides (2021), just BEFORE right AFTER (2022), Pieces of Tomorrow (2024), and Last light (2025), as well as works for Bern Ballet, Goteborg Ballet, the Ballet State of Georgia, StaatBallet Hannover, Staattheater Wiesbaden and Charlotte Ballet.
As an educator, he is regularly invited to lecture and give workshops at dance conservatories, intensives, and festivals around the world.