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Three naked dancers on stage, with a man on the left in the background looking at the man and woman embracing on the right.
Three naked dancers on stage, with a man on the left in the background looking at the man and woman embracing on the right.

An intimate encounter An intimate encounter

A direct, unmediated & deeply human experience of the body.

Home Events Performance Heaven by Sasha Ivanochko

Heaven by Sasha Ivanochko

Six performances only. From Tuesday, September 29 to Saturday, October 3, 2026 – virtuosic dancer and award-winning choreographer Sasha Ivanochko presents her ground-breaking dance work Heaven in a 20th anniversary remount performance. Presented in association with The Theatre Centre in the Franco Boni Theatre.

A rare performance of an incredible Canadian dance piece

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, performed naked and without music. 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 and its need for connection – offering a viewing experience that is direct, unmediated and deeply human.

This remount of Heaven celebrates legacy by bringing together a new cast and design in dialogue with this seminal work and the dancers who originally performed it. The cast features performers Jessie Garon, Scott McCabe and Sully Malaeb Proulx, with lighting design by James Proudfoot. Original Heaven dancer Louis Laberge-Côté returns as the work’s remount consultant and Anisa Tejpar joins as intimacy coordinator.

The run of Heaven will be accompanied by professional-level workshops, artist talks, and facilitated conversations exploring pedagogical lineage and the history of nudity in dance. Do not miss this chance to see a rare performance of an incredible Canadian dance piece.

About the choreographer

For over 30 years, Sasha Ivanochko has developed a rigorous and distinctive choreographic practice as an award-winning artist working across performance, creation and pedagogy within Canadian contemporary dance. Grounded in the body as a site of primary knowledge, her work engages questions of embodied codes, perception and transformation through movement research and interdisciplinary approaches.

“Human beings are bound by our bodies. No matter how closely we press into or empathize with another, we remain fundamentally alone in our experience. Heaven explores that tension between connection and isolation through the most immediate choreographic material I have: the body itself. By removing music, costume and theatrical spectacle, the dancers’ breath, weight, rhythm and physical relationships become the architecture of the work.”

– Sasha Ivanochko, choreographer & producer

Image featuring text superimposed over a photograph. Heaven. Choreographed by Sasha Ivanochko. Presented in association with The Theatre Centre. List of cast members. Location, dates & ticket cost info. QR code. Photo by Kendra Epik. Sponsor logos. Three naked dancers, a woman between two men, clasp onto each other in a struggle.

(Photo credits: Sasha Ivanochko, in association with The Theatre Centre. Heaven. Jessie Garon, Scott McCabe & Sully Malaeb Proulx. Photos by Kendra Epik Photography.)

 

Event details

Presented by: Sasha Ivanochko, in association with The Theatre Centre 

Type of event: dance performance

Choreographed by: Sasha Ivanochko 

Performed & interpreted by: Scott McCabe, Sully Malaeb Proulx & Jessie Garon

Dates & times:

  • Tuesday, September 29 @ 8:00 PM ET (Opening night & reception)
  • Wednesday, September 30 @ 8:00 PM ET
  • Thursday, October 1 @ 8 PM ET (Talkback – ASL interpreter on site pre- & post-show, including talkback)
  • Friday, October 2 @ 8:00 PM ET
  • Saturday, October 3 @ 2:00 PM ET
  • Saturday, October 3 @ 8:00 PM ET

Duration: 60 minutes (no intermission)

Cost: Prices include fees & taxes. Please contact the box office for group rates (see contact below).

  • General Admission – Regular: C$45.50
  • General Admission – Students & Seniors (65+): C$28.50
  • General Admission – Artists: C$35.50
  • Group rate: Groups of 8+ save 15% (applicable to Regular, Student & Seniors tickets)

Location: The Theatre Centre, Franco Boni Theatre, 1115 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J1

Trailer: Watch the trailer

Booking link: Book your tickets here

Contact Details: The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J1, Canada; Box office: (416) 538-0988, boxoffice@theatrecentre.org, theatrecentre.org

 

Content warning: Full nudity and mature content. Age recommendation: 18+.

Accessibility: Please note that the venue is on the second floor and will only be accessible via stairs, as work is currently being done to replace the accessibility lift. This update helps The Theatre Centre continue to steward the resource of their forever home, improving accessibility for the long term. The Thursday, October 1 performance will have an ASL interpreter on site pre- and post-show, including the talkback.

Refund policy: All ticket purchases are final, with no refunds. Exchanges are only permitted for the same show, subject to availability. Thank you for your understanding. Please email the theatre at boxoffice@theatrecentre.org or call at (416) 538-0988 if you have any questions or concerns.