Each year Karen Kain commissions a new work from a Canadian choreographer specifically for the gala performance. Thanks to a sponsorship from Suzanne Rogers and Rogers Communications, a Canadian designer is commissioned to design costumes for the new work. This special partnership began in 2017 with The Sea Above, The Sky Below, choreographed by Choreographic Associate Robert Binet, with costumes designed by Erdem Moralioglu. In 2018, Josh Beamish created Lollapalooza, with costumes designed by Jason Wu. This year, Robert Binet previewed his new work, Dialogue Dances, with costume design by Thomas Tait.