Arts Umbrella Takes to the Big Screen Alongside Emma Thompson & Greg Wise

June 2, 2026

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In Spring 2025, sixteen Arts Umbrella Post-Secondary Dance Program students took part in an international collaboration that exemplifies the power of artistic training meeting real-world opportunity.

Through a partnership with Symphonic Cinema, our dancers traveled to Europe to participate in the filming of LOSS, a cinematic production inspired by The Planets by Gustav Holst. Working alongside acclaimed actors, Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, students experienced firsthand what it means to contribute to a large-scale production.

Featuring choreography by Lukas Timulak, this project offered more than performance experience, it immersed students in a professional creative process, exposing them to the discipline, collaboration, and artistry required at the highest level of the performing arts. From rehearsals to filming on location, dancers gained invaluable insight into the global landscape of dance and film.

Speaking about the experience, Artemis Gordon, Artistic Director, Dance, said: “Working with Emma Thompson and Greg Wise was a masterclass in presence, thoughtfulness, and performance craft, and an example of kindness, generosity, and wisdom. It is a moment in our lives that we all remember and pull on to develop our own way of being an artist. The entire experience was exceptional. The crew and the directors were exceptional hosts for an experience we won’t forget.“

LOSS is set to be presented on stages around the world throughout 2026, accompanied by orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège.