Carmina Burana and T’əl: The Man of the Woods

A celebration of the human spirit in all its complexity: raw passion, vulnerability, desire, and joy.

T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods marks a bold new chapter in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s repertoire. Choreographed by RWB School alumnus, Choreographer Cameron Fraser-Monroe, this west-coast première unfolds an Indigenous legend through the lens of a fully Indigenous creative team.

Narrated in both English and Ayajuthem by Elder Elsie Paul, the story follows a fearless young woman who sets out to rescue her sister from T’əl, a dark figure who steals children under the cover of night. The evocative original score is composed by Cris Derksen, a JUNO-nominated, Two-Spirit cellist and composer. With stunning costume design by Asa Benally (Navajo designer and Yale alumnus), T’əl is a powerful fusion of movement, music, and storytelling that honours the richness of oral tradition.

One of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s most requested productions, Carmina Burana is a feast for the senses—visually stunning, musically absorbing, and emotionally pounding. Choreographed by internationally acclaimed artist Mauricio Wainrot, this electrifying work fuses bold, athletic movement with Carl Orff’s cantata to create a visceral experience that transcends traditional storytelling.

Each scene pulses with energy and emotion, shifting seamlessly between moments of erratic intensity, tender romanticism, and unabashed sensuality. With sculptural lighting and costuming, and an ensemble of dancers moving as one powerful organism, Carmina Burana becomes more than performance—it becomes like ritual.