Royal Winnipeg Ballet opens season with Stravinsky Stories and a new Firebird
Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Stravinsky Stories opens Oct. 8 at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg, pairing Alexei Ratmansky’s The Fairy’s Kiss with Houston Thomas’s new Firebird.
Photo credit: Danny Shumov
Royal Winnipeg Ballet opens its 2026–27 mainstage season at Winnipeg’s Centennial Concert Hall on Oct. 8 with Stravinsky Stories, a double bill that brings Alexei Ratmansky’s The Fairy’s Kiss to the company alongside the world premiere of a new Firebird by choreographer Houston Thomas. The program runs through Oct. 11.
The two ballets use music by Igor Stravinsky and come from different creative lineages. Ratmansky’s The Fairy’s Kiss, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ice-Maiden, premiered with Miami City Ballet in 2017. RWB’s production credits Jérôme Kaplan with set and costume design and James F. Ingalls with lighting.
Thomas’s Firebird is a new creation commissioned for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and receives its world premiere in Winnipeg. RWB describes his version as a contemporary reworking set inside the corporate world of Kastchei HQ, with Kinsun Chan credited for costume, set and lighting design. The company said in August that Thomas was developing the ballet with RWB ahead of its fall premiere.
Full-program performances are scheduled for Oct. 8, 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., with a final performance Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. RWB lists the double bill at about one hour and 55 minutes, including one intermission. A separate community matinee on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. presents The Fairy’s Kiss only; RWB’s current ticketing information states that Firebird is not included.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet opens its 2026–27 mainstage season at Winnipeg’s Centennial Concert Hall on Oct. 8 with Stravinsky Stories, a double bill that brings Alexei Ratmansky’s The Fairy’s Kiss to the company alongside the world premiere of a new Firebird by choreographer Houston Thomas.