From Screen to Stage – The Veil Between Worlds Creation Process
The Veil Between Worlds has a curious program note: “premiere June 10, 2021; Pacific Northwest Ballet (digital release).” This ballet was originally created, filmed, and shown during PNB’s 2020/21 Digital Season. Much like the inspiration for the work, The Veil Between Worlds has lived many lives; the piece has been performed on the screen and on the stage! Read on as we dive deep into The Veil Between Worlds unique creation process.
Initial Creation
Choreographer Edwaard Liang began working on The Veil Between Worlds in December of 2019. In his concept for the piece, couples seek one another amidst their many lives. Liang was interested in visualizing a relationship between physical and spiritual worlds. He had explored this idea in other ballets, but he wanted to revisit it, this time celebrating the joy to be found in such relationships.
Music was another important part of Liang’s inspiration, and he collaborated closely with composer Oliver Davis, who created an original score for the piece. First, Liang laid out a narrative structure for Davis. After Davis had created a score, Liang created movement in response to it. Liang says, “What’s wonderful about [Oliver Davis] is that he’s open to a story. Even with my non-narrative ballets, I like to have a concept, whether it’s written in the playbill or not. It was amazing to structure this piece together in an emotional arch.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Veil Between Worlds’ planned premiere was pushed back. Soon, PNB began an innovative digital season, and Liang started choreographing the ballet with a fresh approach. Liang says, “The process was difficult, but it was amazing to see how artists were using creativity to inspire others.” He worked with a smaller cast of dancers than he originally planned, and some transitions came together in the editing room instead of the studio.
Translation to Stage
During PNB’s 50th anniversary season, The Veil Between Worlds was brought back to PNB audiences, but they were watching the dancers on stage, in person this time! Liang and Davis made some adjustments to the piece, making it compelling in the theater. Davis modified the score’s orchestration to involve more musicians and develop a more complex sound. Liang returned to the PNB studios and changed portions of the choreography so that more of the stage was utilized. The dancers quickly adapted to Liang’s new vision. He says, “PNB dancers are so just ferociously fast.”
Continued Performances
The Veil Between Worlds continues to be performed. This summer, PNB Company dancers traveled to Washington D.C., dancing the piece as part of The Kennedy Center’s “10,000 Dreams Festival.” Curated by the Kennedy Center and Phil Chan, co-founder of Final Bow for Yellowface, the festival shone the spotlight on Asian and Asian American ballet choreographers. This exciting opportunity was inspiring for the PNB Company dancers connecting with other ballet companies and for new audience members witnessing Liang’s work.
PNB is bringing The Veil Between Worlds back to Seattle this fall! The company will perform the work as part of THE TIMES ARE RACING program on September 20 – 29, 2024. The poignant piece’s creation process has been “quite the journey,” says Liang. Join us in celebrating Edwaard Liang, the PNB dancers, and their enduring creativity as The Veil Between Worlds takes the McCaw Hall stage later this month!
Dive even deeper with PNB’s podcast, Ballet Talk! Listen to this discussion between choreographers Edwaard Liang, Kiyon Ross, and composer Oliver Davis co-moderated by PNB’s music director and principal conductor Emil de Cou and conductor and PNB company pianist Josh Archibald-Seiffer.
