Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers each writing a short movement, describing ananimal of the composers' choice, to form a suite called Bestiarium. A consortium of bands around the world helped to fund the project and the world premiere of the suite took place in March 2013 in Medellín, Colombia. Dance of the Whaleuses the tenor instruments of the band to describe a lazy and graceful dance by a blue whale and is dedicated to endangered species around the world.