Weather-sensitive

The opening duet in Meteorite beautifully encapsulates Kirsten Wicklund’s broad aesthetic interests. The woman wears pointe shoes, a technology that facilitates the light upward energy of her crisp retirées, while the barefoot man hunches over, stepping firmly into the ground. Yet, next to each other in the quiet hum of the brightly lit stage, they are well paired, not just through costuming—both wear short, fire-engine-red fringed skirts—but also in the way they equally embody the same port de bras. Their partnership is coherent, the inner impulse intriguing.

Wicklund made Meteorite in 2024 for Ballet Edmonton, a small troupe in Alberta, Canada, during her tenure as artistic director. In that role, her understanding of the importance of a supportive, nurturing leadership deepened. Paying ...