Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Bumpy Journey to Reconciliation

Sarah Jenkins · 2026-01-26

Let's talk about something that's been on my mind lately. You know how dance studios and choreographers are always thinking about movement, about telling stories through bodies in space? Well, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is doing something much bigger than just telling stories. They're trying to rewrite their own. It's not easy. Reconciliation is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it actually mean for a ballet company? For the people who show up to class every day, who teach pliés and tendus? It means looking at history honestly, even when it's uncomfortable. ### What Reconciliation Really Looks Like in Dance I've been thinking about this a lot. When we create choreography, we're building on traditions. But what if those traditions come from places that hurt people? The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is asking those tough questions. They're not just putting on shows with Indigenous themes and calling it a day. They're digging deeper. They're working with Indigenous artists and communities. They're rethinking their entire approach. And let me tell you - it's bumpy. There are missteps. There are conversations that go in circles. There are moments where everyone wonders if they're doing it right. But that's the thing about real change. It's messy. It doesn't happen in neat, choreographed sequences. It happens in fits and starts, with moments of beautiful connection and moments of frustrating misunderstanding. ### The Practical Steps Forward So what does this actually look like day-to-day? For dance professionals like us, it might mean: - Rethinking repertoire choices and asking whose stories we're telling - Creating more inclusive casting and training opportunities - Building genuine partnerships rather than just checking diversity boxes - Listening more than we talk, especially to communities we've historically ignored One thing that really struck me? The importance of patience. In dance, we're used to quick results. You practice a combination all week, and by Friday, you've got it. Reconciliation doesn't work like that. It's a long-term commitment. ### Why This Matters for Every Dance Studio You might be thinking, "That's interesting, but my studio is just teaching kids ballet basics." Here's the thing - every dance space carries history. Every choice we make about music, about costumes, about the stories we tell (or don't tell) sends a message. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet's journey shows us that reconciliation isn't just for big companies. It's for all of us who love this art form. It's about asking questions like: - Whose cultural traditions are we borrowing from? - Are we honoring those traditions or just using them for aesthetic appeal? - Who feels welcome in our studios, and who doesn't? I love this quote from an Indigenous collaborator working with the company: "It's not about adding Indigenous elements to ballet. It's about creating something new together." That's the shift in thinking that changes everything. ### The Ongoing Work Here's what I keep coming back to. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet isn't finished with this work. They probably never will be. Reconciliation isn't a destination you reach - it's a way of traveling. For dance professionals, that means being willing to: - Make mistakes and learn from them - Have uncomfortable conversations - Change plans when we realize our approach was wrong - Keep showing up even when progress feels slow It's challenging work. Some days it probably feels like two steps forward, one step back. But that's how real growth happens - not in perfect pirouettes, but in stumbling, getting back up, and trying again. What the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is teaching us is that dance can be more than entertainment. It can be a space for healing, for truth-telling, for building bridges. And that's work worth doing, no matter how bumpy the road gets.