World Premiere Procession

• Artistic Director Hope Muir says, “It’s an incredible honour to welcome Bobbi and Or to the National Ballet, exposing our artists and audiences to world-renowned dancemakers of unparalleled creative talent.”
  
  
• Smith and Schraiber, who are partners onstage and off, pursue a celebrated movement style that is “emotional, muscular, sensual, witty, graceful, moody, seemingly spontaneous and always unexpected.” (LA Weekly)
  
  
• The theme of procession guides this new piece, a group of people moving forward in an organized fashion, often for ceremonial purposes, as at a wedding.
  
  
• Smith is the subject of the 2017 documentary Bobbi Jene and, with Schraiber, she stars in Aviva (2020), the buzzy dance film by Boaz Yakin of Remember the Titans fame
  
  
• Two critically acclaimed musicians will augment The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra and join the dancers onstage.

Bobbi Jene Smith is an acclaimed American director, choreographer and performer. Formerly with The Batsheva Dance Company, she works extensively for stage and screen in a raw emotional language blending theatre and movement. Smith is Artist in Residence at L.A. Dance Project and a founding member of American Modern Opera Company with partner Or Schraiber.

Dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Or Schraiber trained at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He performed with The Batsheva Dance Company before settling in New York City, where he creates independently and with partner Bobbi Jene Smith. Schraiber is Artist in Residence at L.A. Dance Project and a founding member of American Modern Opera Company.

Choreography:
Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber

Assistant to the Choreographers:
Doug Letheren

World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, November 1, 2025 

A co-production of The National Ballet of Canada and The Royal Danish Ballet.

Procession is generously supported by The Producers' Circle with additional funding by The Anna McCowan-Johnson New Creations Fund.

The Producers’ Circle (2026): John & Claudine Bailey, Indra & Rags Davloor, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry Lozinski, O.C. & Joan Lozinski, O.C., The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation and Alexander Younger & Sarah Richardson.