From 20 to 22 February 2026, Béjart Ballet Lausanne returned to Istanbul for three performances at Zorlu PSM, presenting an exceptional program that brought together two of Maurice Béjart’s most celebrated masterpieces—The Firebird and Boléro—alongside the world premiere of OSKAR, a newly commissioned creation by Riva & Repele.

This unique programme juxtaposed Béjart’s iconic choreographic legacy with a contemporary creation, positioning Istanbul as the international launch platform for OSKAR. The production marked not only its world premiere, but also its first performance in both Türkiye and Europe, making the Istanbul engagement a significant milestone within Béjart Ballet Lausanne’s international touring season.

About the Programme
Created exclusively for Béjart Ballet Lausanne, OSKAR is a new work by the choreographic duo Riva & Repele, set to music by Dmitri Shostakovich, Johannes Brahms, and Ruggero Leoncavallo.
Following its world premiere in Lausanne, the ballet received its Turkish premiere in Istanbul, marking the opening engagement of its European tour. The Istanbul performances therefore represented a significant milestone in the company’s international touring calendar, introducing the production to audiences beyond Switzerland for the first time.
With OSKAR, Béjart Ballet Lausanne expands its artistic repertoire while reaffirming its commitment to preserving Maurice Béjart’s legacy through the development of new choreographic voices and contemporary artistic collaborations.
The programme also featured two landmark works by Maurice Béjart.
Created in 1970 to Igor Stravinsky’s celebrated score, The Firebird reinterprets the mythical Phoenix as a universal symbol of transformation, resilience and rebirth. It remains one of the defining works of Béjart’s repertoire.

Boléro, premiered in Brussels in 1961 to Maurice Ravel’s hypnotic composition, stands among the most iconic works in the history of modern dance. Built upon repetition, rhythm and the physical intensity of the human body, the work has become one of Maurice Béjart’s enduring artistic signatures and continues to captivate audiences around the world.