Suspended
between
reality
&
Myth
About The Performers...
Horses Won't Follow features a cast of intelligent, curious, and classically trained dance artists working in contemporary dance. The credits of the cast include esteemed companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Kidd Pivot, Ballet BC, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Ballet Edmonton, and more. These artists are essential collaborators in the work, and we celebrate them for their unique and ever-expanding skillsets in the field of physical performance.
meet the creators
In Horses Won't Follow, Kirsten Wicklund and Peter Smida unite their distinct yet integrated artistic voices to create a new full evening of contemporary dance theatre. Building on extensive international performance and choreographic backgrounds—including formative years as core dancers with Ballet BC, Kirsten’s continued performance career with Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and her tenure as Artistic Director of Ballet Edmonton, alongside Peter’s independent choreographic work for the Wuppertal Creates Platform—the work reflects a shared history of rigorous multi-disciplinary exploration.
Having created together in major institutions such as The Dutch National Ballet, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Alberta Ballet, Ballet BC, The New York Choreographic Institute, Ballet Kelowna, and more, Peter and Kirsten's work reflects a shared vision to contribute to the evolution of classical ballet as they access that language to create physically theatrical work. Deeply committed to the next generation of artists, both creators also serve as active educators for premier training programs such as Modus Operandi and Arts Umbrella.
Horses Won't Follow pushes both artists toward new thresholds, probing the limits of narrative, agency, and endurance, and represents a major evolution in their joint body of work; a synthesis of precision, dramatic nuance, and a commitment to new levels of physical authenticity.
A new work begins long before it reaches the stage. It takes time, space, collaboration, and people who believe in the possibilities of what art can be.
Horses Won’t Follow is an independent collaboration by Peter Smida and Kirsten Wicklund. Your support helps bring this work to life — and makes you part of its journey from the studio to the stage.
Join us in bringing it into the world.
Contribute to the creation of Horses Won’t Follow.