The Vernon Performing Arts Centre Society continues its high-flying dance season with the return of Ballet Kelowna to the stage.
The Okanagan’s own professional ballet company has not performed in Vernon since 2014, when then artistic director David LaHay produced his swan song, Innovation.
The company has since bounced back under new artistic director, Simone Orlando, and is currently touring its new production, Boundless, around the province.
Ballet Kelowna arrives at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Saturday and will perform four distinct works, including a world premiere by former National Ballet of Canada dancer Matjsash Mrozewski.
“Ballet Kelowna is excited to be back to Vernon in 2016,” said Orlando. “Boundless is a really exciting mixed programme, with themes of youth and love perfect for spring.”
A highlight of that program is Mrozewski’s world premiere, with music by Canadian composer Owen Belton.
The unique work was created by Ballet Kelowna’s six professional dancers alongside Mrozewski and weaves elements of text and audio recordings gathered from interviews with more than 50 Okanagan youth about their thoughts on dance, art, life and the challenges they face.
“We will use the virtuosity of contemporary dance to examine different emotional states and relationships between people,” said Mrozewski.
Ballet Kelowna starts Boundless with Orlando’s own choreographed work Studies in Cash.
Inspired by the musical stylings of country legend Johnny Cash and his infamous 1968 concert at Folsom Prison, the multi-faceted work explores concepts of confinement and freedom.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Orlando spent time with the National Ballet of Canada and later performed with Ballet B.C. for 12 years as a principal dancer.
She became artistic director of Ballet Kelowna in 2014 and has since led the company through two successful seasons.
Orlando is the recipient of the Performing Arts Commission at the 2014 Vancouver Arts Awards, and received the prestigious 2006 Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award and the Fellowship Initiative Grant from the New York Choreographic Institute in 2009.
In sharp contrast to Orlando’s work is Joshua Beamish’s interpretation of the classical duet from Romeo and Juliet.
The Kelowna native and founder/director of Move: the company, Beamish will transport audiences to Renaissance Verona with a fresh and inspirational re-imagining of the classical romance between Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers.
Ballet Kelowna dancers will also perform Glas by multiple award-winning choreographer Gabrielle Lamb.
Inspired by the relentless flow of a river, the dancers’ sophisticated movements will be paired with the music of American songwriter Andrew Bird.
“This work showcases the fluidity and physical interplay of the dancers in an abundance of intricate combinations,” said Lamb.
Tickets for Ballet Kelowna’s Boundless are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $30 for students and can be purchased now at the Ticket Seller box office by calling 549-SHOW (7469) or online at www.ticketseller.ca.