Heaven

The gasp of breath, the startling slap of flesh on flesh, the stamp of foot to floor—these are the sounds of vulnerability and power that score Heaven. Rooted in the idea of heaven as a site of union, the choreography invites audiences into an intimate encounter with the body—its limits, its desires, its failures, and its need for connection—offering a viewing experience that is direct, unmediated, and deeply human.

Humans, performers, are bound by our bodies. No matter how closely we press into or empathize with another, we remain fundamentally alone in our experience. Performed naked and without music, the dancers communicate with a sensual, economical physicality that lands viscerally. The work, dramatically stark and exposed, surprises and seduces with primal imagery and provocative candour.

Falling on the heels of Ivanochko’s appointment to 100th Class of Guggenheim Fellows, the 20th anniversary remount celebrates legacy by bringing together a new cast and design in dialogue with this seminal work and the dancers who originally performed it. Featuring performers Jessie Garon, Scott McCabe, and Sully Malaeb Proulx, with lighting design by James Proudfoot, the remount premieres in Toronto in September 2026 in association with The Theatre Centre.

The project will be accompanied by professional-level workshops, artist talks, and facilitated conversations exploring pedagogical lineage and the history of nudity in dance.