“Desire is a driving force behind movement, behind repetition, behind continuing forward and continuing to live, basically. Continuing to try despite failures,” she says. In putting those feelings and experiences into choreography, Wicklund used repetition and unison, reinforced by uniform costumes, to evoke a sense of relentlessness.

As Wicklund prepares for her return to Canada, she speaks enthusiastically about her debut collaboration with Ballet Edmonton and the calibre of work being done by the company.

“For me, it’s the most fruitful process I’ve had to date,” she says. “Every day, they would rise up to meet my expectations, so my expectations kept growing and growing.”