Tessa Virtue has spent the majority of her life honing her skills in control and precision. On the ice, she mastered the art of finding the perfect balance on her blade, trusting her partner completely, and executing challenging moves with ease. Teaming up with Scott Moir, they revolutionized ice dance by weaving storytelling with elements of speed, accuracy, trust, and emotion, leading to three Olympic gold medals, three world championships, and a lasting legacy in Canadian sports.

Now, Virtue faces a new challenge that contrasts with her past as an elite athlete. She is venturing into uncharted territory, where she must let go of her balance, embrace uncertainty, and take the stage solo. Her contemporary dance solo, choreographed by Alyssa Martin of the National Ballet of Canada, will debut on October 15 at the Fall for Dance North Festival in Toronto. This marks Virtue’s first major performance outside the ice rink and a return to her initial passion for dance.

Although honored and excited by the opportunity, Virtue admits to experiencing mixed emotions. She describes the experience as a mix of exhilaration and fear, creating a sense of electrifying excitement. Virtue recalls her early love for dance, which provided solace during her skating pursuits, starting at the age of three and continuing through her moves to Michigan at 15.

Transitioning from ice dancing to stage performance has required Virtue to adapt her approach to movement. Unlike the controlled perfection demanded in elite skating, dance demands a different relationship with the body. Virtue emphasizes the importance of playing with momentum and energy on stage, exploring off-axis movements and embracing vulnerability and risk.

Her upcoming solo not only marks a return to her first love but also signifies her first solo performance in years. Despite considering a duet with Scott Moir, Virtue now embraces a new kind of partnership with her collaborators in the dance community. Alyssa Martin praises Virtue’s authentic, open, and generous performance style, highlighting her warmth and power on stage.

Set to Céline Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” Virtue’s dance debut embodies artistic risk-taking, a sentiment echoed by Robert Binet, the festival’s artistic director. Binet sees the collaboration as a unique artistic adventure, uniting two artists with diverse backgrounds but a shared love for dance. He hopes the audience will witness Virtue’s versatility outside her ice dancing realm, showcasing the universal appeal of dance as a form of self-expression.

Virtue encourages audiences to embrace the performance without requiring a deep understanding of dance terminology, urging them to be open to experiencing emotions. Looking ahead, Virtue remains open to new challenges, emphasizing the importance of courage even in the face of uncertainty.

Virtue’s solo dance premiere is scheduled for October 15 at the Fall for Dance North Festival in Toronto, running from October 15 to 25.