Crystal Pite’s acclaimed Emergence returns to Scotland alongside the world premiere of Julia Cheng’s Entress.

This autumn, Scottish Ballet brings together two of contemporary dance’s most compelling creative voices in an extraordinary double bill that explores connection, transformation and the power of collective experience.

Touring Scotland from 10 September to 3 October 2026, the programme pairs the long-awaited return of Crystal Pite’s acclaimed masterpiece Emergence with the world premiere of Entress, a brand-new commission from award-nominated choreographer Julia Cheng, featuring an original score by celebrated composer Isobel Waller-Bridge.

Returning to Scotland for the first time in a decade, Emergence remains one of the defining dance works of the 21st century. Inspired by swarm intelligence and the complex collective behaviours found throughout the natural world, Pite’s thrilling choreography transforms the stage into a living super-organism. Dancers pulse, surge and scatter with astonishing precision, shifting seamlessly between individual identity and a mesmerising hive mind.

Created by one of the world’s most acclaimed choreographers, Emergence showcases the extraordinary athleticism and versatility of Scottish Ballet’s dancers. For the 2026 tour, Pite has revisited the work, making subtle yet significant updates that allow it to evolve while retaining the vision that has captivated audiences around the world.

Reflecting on the work’s return, Crystal Pite said:

Today, the desire to honour and share something about the living world feels more urgent than ever. I want to keep the piece vital and evolving. I love tinkering with works that I’ve made. When my choreography is embodied by a different dancer it finds new possibilities. Rather than recreating exactly what I did before, I want to access the distinct abilities and qualities of the people in front of me. I’m excited to have this work come to life afresh through the amazing dancers at Scottish Ballet.

Alongside Pite’s celebrated work comes the highly anticipated premiere of Entress, a bold new creation from Julia Cheng, whose acclaimed choreography for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and Fiddler on the Roof earned Olivier and Chita Rivera Award nominations.

Named after an old Scottish word meaning “the right to enter” or “an entrance”, Entress explores themes of resilience, transformation and renewal. Developed in close collaboration with Scottish Ballet’s dancers, the work draws on ritual, mythology, architecture and ideas of metamorphosis to create a deeply human and emotionally charged experience.

At its heart is an original score by Isobel Waller-Bridge, whose award-winning work spans stage and screen, from Fleabag and Emma to the Oscar-winning The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Long-time collaborator and internationally renowned percussionist Beibei Wang joins the creative team as Artistic Associate and Guest Percussionist.

Emergence and Entress are united by a shared fascination with human connection. In Pite’s work, dancers operate as a powerful collective force, while Cheng’s new creation transforms personal experiences of grief, hope and renewal into shared acts of expression. Together, they offer audiences a profound exploration of how meaning, understanding and community emerge through movement.

Scottish Ballet CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson said:

The double bill opens at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow  before touring to Aberdeen and Edinburgh offering audiences the opportunity to experience two exceptional works from artists at the forefront of contemporary choreography.