Cikilaxʷm: Controlled Burn at Kelowna Community Theatre

Ballet Kelowna presents the world premiere of the company’s second commissioned, full-length work, Cikilaxm: Controlled Burn, co-produced by the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, on stage at the Kelowna Community Theatre on May 1 + 2, 2026. Choreographed by Ballet Kelowna Associate Artist Cameron sink Fraser-Monroe, the two-act narrative contemporary ballet is set in a dystopian future where wildfire season has no end. The work follows a young Indigenous firefighter, whose beliefs are challenged when he meets Mothk, a fierce protector of ancestral knowledge who carries out cultural burns–a traditional Indigenous practice that nourishes the land by proactively burning debris, and thereby protecting trees, wildlife, and communities from the ravages of wildfire. Developed by an Indigenous-led creative team, Cikilaxm: Controlled Burn features 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. Tickets and information at balletkelowna.ca