Ballet Kelowna’s recent performances of The Nutcracker with the Canadian School of Ballet received standing ovations at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
Audiences say they were thrilled with the new staging, which captured the energy and charm of the young students while featuring Ballet Kelowna’s professional dancers on full technical and artistic display.
“We have received dozens of messages and phone calls praising the production and the outstanding performances by the Ballet Kelowna dancers,” said Ballet Kelowna’s newly appointed artistic director and CEO Simone Orlando. “I believe audiences are going to be even more thrilled by what we have in store in the new year.”
Ballet Kelowna is set to bring an impressive lineup of dance to Kelowna, including the Canadian premiere of the Ashley Bouder Project March 3.
Bouder is the principal dancer with New York City Ballet and will be joined by an elite ensemble of NYCB’s finest artists to present a performance experience of the highest calibre.
The explosive first act, An Exposé on Ballet Style, promises the grand classical and neoclassical works by ballet legends Marius Petipa and George Balanchine, including excerpts from Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Agon and the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.
The second act boasts the anticipated Canadian premiere of Rouge et Noir, choreographed by Kelowna’s own Joshua Beamish, artistic director of MOVE: the company, with music from Shostakovich and costumes by American fashion designer B Michael.
The season closes with the unveiling of Ballet Kelowna’s Forward: A Mixed Repertory Programme April 24, following a tour of B.C. and Alberta.
Forward features three premieres by some of Canada’s leading contemporary ballet choreographers, coupled with the introduction of Lee Dances – a presentation of excerpts from award-winning works created for the esteemed Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award.
Tickets for all performances can be purchased now at balletkelowna.ca, by phone at 250-862-2867 or in person at 1397 Ellis St. (Kelowna Actors Studio box office). All performances take place at the Kelowna Community Theatre, 1375 Water St.
