Emergence

with Scottish Ballet

A modern classic by Crystal Pite

and a brand-new work by Julia Cheng

In Crystal Pite’s Emergence, the dancers move like swarming creatures through a dark universe. Classical ballet blends with raw, insect-like movement, staged in a subterranean beehive, accompanied by haunting, electronic music. On stage, large groups of dancers move in razor-sharp choreography inspired by swarm intelligence and the behaviour of bees. 

‘There aren’t many current choreographers more respected and in-demand than the multi-award-winning Crystal Pite,’ says The Guardian. With a bold and distinctive choreographic style, Pite has left her mark on an entire generation of dancers. The critically acclaimed Emergence (2009) was her first commission for a major ballet company and her international breakthrough. 

Pite is now restaging the work with Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s national dance company. Based in Glasgow, the company has been active for more than 55 years and performs regularly throughout the UK and internationally. 

Joining Emergence is the new work Entress by Julia Cheng, which will be performed before the interval. The work has its world premiere in Scotland in autumn 2026. British choreographer Cheng began ballet classes at the age of three. She found her distinctive style in fusing ballet with hip hop and waacking, a queer dance style that emerged in the 1970s. Her West End choreography for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club led to a Broadway production and an Olivier nomination. Cheng’s new work features original music, with percussionist Beibei Wang performing live alongside the dancers. 

Video: Eve McConnachie

Contributors

• Emergence:
  Crystal Pite choreography
  Owen Belton music
  Jay Gower Taylor set design
  Linda Chow costumes
  Alan Brodie lighting design
  Eric Beauchesne & Anna Herrmann staging

• Entress:
  Julia Cheng choreography
  Yann Seabra set and costume design
  Isobel Waller-Bridge composer
  Lee Curran lighting design
  Beibei Wang artistic associate and guest percussioninst
  Laura Braid associate choreography
  Nick Drake story consultant

• Scottish Ballet cast

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