Ballet Kelowna brings fire hose, scaffold to the stage!

It's not what you'd usually find on stage at a ballet performance.

The world premiere of Ballet Kelowna's second commissioned, full-length work, Cikilaxʷm: Controlled Burn, brings awesome dance and original music. But it also comes with fire hose and scaffolding.

The evocative contemporary ballet runs at the Kelowna Community Theatre on May 1 and 2, 2026 and features choreography from Ballet Kelowna Associate Artist Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe.

There's also an original score by award-winning Cree composer and cellist Cris Derksen, immersive digital projections from Euro/Omushkego Cree artist Andy Moro, and costumes by Navajo/Cherokee designer Asa Benally.

Set in a dystopian future where wildfire season has no end, the piece follows the journey of a young Indigenous firefighter.

Tickets can be purchased online at: theatre.kelowna.ca, with specially reduced rates for Indigenous patrons.