Medhi Walerski

Medhi Walerski was appointed Artistic Director of Ballet BC in July 2020. His leadership tenure has been highlighted by an artist-centred approach and deep commitment to creation and innovation, an expanded global touring program, increased dancer compensation and equity, a world-renowned brand identity, and unprecedented audience growth.

Raised in France, Walerski initially trained in Normandy with Laurie Bokobza and Christine Caroly before joining the Conservatoire Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. He danced at the Paris Opera Ballet and the Ballet du Rhin before joining the Nederlands Dans Theater in 2001. For more than a decade, he was an integral part of the company, contributing to the creative, innovative style that NDT is famed for.

Walerski has worked closely with many renowned choreographers, creating alongside and performing works by Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Crystal Pite, Johan Inger, and Wayne McGregor, among others. Walerski’s choreographic debut was in 2008 for NDT 2. Since then, he has created numerous acclaimed works including Petite Cérémonie (2011), Blink of an eye (2011), Chamber (2012), GARDEN (2016), SWAY (2019), Silent Tides (2021), just BEFORE right AFTER (2022), Pieces of Tomorrow (2024), and Last light (2025), and more which have been performed by companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet BC, National Ballet of Canada, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Royal Swedish Ballet, State Ballet of Georgia, StaatBallet Hannover, and Charlotte Ballet.

Walerski was awarded the prestigious Dutch dance prize VSCD Zwaan in 2013, and was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France’s Ministry of Culture in 2026. As an educator, he is regularly invited to lecture and give workshops at dance conservatories, intensives, and festivals around the world.

Photo: Michael Slobodian