Movement and music are taking the stage as the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre's dance series begins.
”Our Spotlight Season Dance Series always amazes and surprises with its diversity of styles and storylines,” said the centre’s executive director, Jim Harding. “Even audiences who may not think of themselves as dance aficionados will discover just how engaging and enjoyable this series really is.”
Kicking off the series is Ballet Kelowna's presentation of The Cowboy Act Suite & Other Works, Wednesday, Sept. 18, by Vernon's own Cameron Fraser-Monroe.
Through Indigenous perspectives, this innovative work explores the dichotomy between “Cowboys and Indians.” Fraser-Monroe’s intuitive take on the swashbuckling strut of the Cowboy informs this intellectual unpacking of a one-sided lens and flips the script to ask, "what happens when an Indian directs the Cowboys through their history?"
Next up is Social Tango from Buenos Aires on Oct. 28 exploring the social value of dance and celebrating the tango community through dance, music and film. Tango lovers will experience an evening in the heart of a Buenos Aires evening, set to the rhythm of this popular dance, in the intimacy of a milonga, re-created by multi-disciplinary choreographer Agustina Videla.
Audience favourite Ballet Jörgen's Sleeping Beauty offers a magical rendition of the classic fairy tale Feb. 6. This classic tale of nature and love will inspire young and old alike. Danced to the original score by Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky, this new ballet tells the enchanting story of Aurora and her prince, complete with its inherently magical qualities and dazzling choreography.
The City of Others by Sankofa Danzafro highlights social justice issues in Colombia as it closes out the dance series Feb. 18. The powerful Afro-Colombian dancers and musicians from Medellín, Colombia, perform this show that demands the city be a place of co-existence; a place for everybody; not only the few. “Sankofa” means “to return to the roots”: an African philosophy that proposed to know the past as a condition for understanding the present.
"The Spotlight Dance Series offers a rich mix of cultural expression, inviting audiences on a journey through the vibrant dances from around the world," said Erin Kennedy, VDPAC’s artistic director.
Dance Series subscriptions are $150 for all four performances. For tickets, call 250-549-SHOW (7469) or visit www.vdpac.ca.
