Boston Ballet’s Kathleen Breen Combes rehearsed “Tar and Feathers,” a dance by choreographer Jirí Kylián.

Boston Ballet’s Sabi Varga and Misa Kuranaga (at left) and Kathleen Breen Combs and Aurélie Cayla (at right) in rehearsal.

Stager Aurélie Cayla and the work’s central figure Kathleen Breen Combes.

Dalay Parrondo (left) and Avetik Karapetyan rehearsed "Symphony of Psalms."

Jiří Kylián's “Tar and Feathers” requires shiny black and white floors that dancers not only dance on but slide across in sock-clad feet.

“All the lifts melt into the floor and you can look through to your own reflection to see yourself dancing. It’s really cool,” said Breen.

The 2006 "Tar and Feathers” dance.