"turning opera upside down"
Led by Artistic director Idan Cohen, Ne. Sans is a home for the research and creation of work that seeks to deepen and re-connect opera and dance.
BACH DANCES
Bach Dances
World premiere by Idan Cohen, with Accompaniment by Cellist Elinor Frey
August 1, 2026 at 1pm & 7:30pm | Scotiabank Dance Centre
Artists: Elinor Frey, cellist
Dancers: Will Jessup, Alexis Fletcher, Emma Galvin, Lazaro Silva
costume designer: Rafaella Rabinovich
lighting designer: Victoria Bell
Run Time: 60 Minutes, no Interval
Bach Dances is a world premiere contemporary dance production conceived by award-winning choreographer and opera stage director Idan Cohen. A co-production between Ne.Sans Opera and Dance, The Dance Centre and Early Music Vancouver, the work reimagines Bach’s first three cello suites as a powerful theatrical experience of live music and contemporary dance. The suites will be performed live by celebrated cellist Elinor Frey, and feature exceptional dancers, evocative costumes, and striking visual imagery.
Photo: Jess Mac, Dancers Lazaro Silva and Emma Galvin
'Take This Waltz' Celebrating the music of Leonard Cohen. Staged by Idan Cohen, featuring the Canadian bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch, described as “flat-out brilliant” by Opera News, dancer/musician Ted Littlemore and a classical chamber ensemble of Cello, violin, and accordion. Photo: Chris Randle
'I Capuleti e i Montecchi', Vincenzo Bellini. Teatro Massimo, Palermo, Italy, November 2023.
Directed and Choreographed by Idan Cohen.
Conductor: Omer Meir Wellber.
Photos: Rosellina Garbo
'Hourglass', A dance performance and concert creation set to the complete Piano Études of the celebrated composer Philip Glass.
Choreographed by Idan Cohen, performed live by award-winning pianist Leslie Dala.
November 2022. Photos: Chris Randle
Ne.Sans Opera & Dance acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to create on these lands.
