Ballet Victoria is bringing a mixed medley to the Winspear next month to close out their 11th season.
On Sunday, July 12, Ballet Victoria’s artistic director Paul Destrooper and his cast will head to the past to reimagine Sure-Shot Annie Oakley into a graceful yet tough as nails star of a western show. Annie’s Rodeo will be the highlight of the mixed program ballet on the Charlie White Theatre stage.
The program of Annie’s Rodeo and Other Works will begin with a beautifully haunting solo, created for dancer Bethany Le Corre to the music of Arvo Pärt.
“Bethany has grown amazingly as a dancer,” said Destrooper.
“Taking local dancers and nurturing their talent to a point where they are prepared to take centre stage here and around the world is something we are very proud to say we accomplish at Ballet Victoria.”
Following Le Corre’s solo, a primal and physically demanding duet will be performed by principal dancers Andrea Bayne and Matthew Cluff to another work by Pärt.
“Andrea and Matthew have paired beautifully for two years now,” said Destrooper.
“An audience favourite, they are elegantly athletic, supremely talented and a joy to watch.”
The company then takes to the stage with an explosion of colour and fierce choreography with the best of Don Quixote, one of the most extraordinary classical ballets wherein the charged music of Leon Minkus drives the dancers with a Spanish flair.
Then it is the premiere of the new story ballet, Annie’s Rodeo. Le Corre’s first lead will be featured in this one-act comedic turn incorporating music from Aaron Copeland’s Rodeo with a few musical gems from unexpected sources such as spaghetti westerns and/or favourite TV shows of the era.
The show begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. Tickets start at $15.75 and are available at marywinspear.ca or by calling 250-656-0275.
— by Devon MacKenzie/News contributor
