Ballet guaranteed to move you
Ballet guaranteed to move you
Dancers grace Kelowna audiences
By Mya Brews - Contributor
September is a busy time of year: students are trading in their beach towels for books, parents are coming to terms with their end of holidays, and heading to their offices, and the dancers at Ballet Kelowna are back full-time in the studio. Ballet Kelowna is home to six professional dancers between the ages of 19 and 24 with hometowns throughout the country, hand-picked based on their talent, athleticism, and discipline. Each August the dancers journey from Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta and other British Columbian regions to sunny Kelowna where they undergo intense training and rehearsing for 8 ½ hours a day, Monday through Friday. It usually takes a couple of weeks for them to adjust to the demanding schedule as the ballet season breaks for summer from May to mid August.
For some, there lies the privilege of being selected for professional dance programs, for example Raelynn Heppell—one of Ballet Kelowna’s senior dancers—who was chosen to participate in the Banff Professional Summer Dance Program. “It was an amazing experience which allowed me to explore my technique and ambition in a professional and very inspiring setting,” Heppell stated.
Most of the six dancers have been dancing since their youth and come from a range of dance backgrounds from Ukrainian to Tap to Jazz. The rigor and technique of ballet, however, enables dancers to excel in other dance disciplines. Since the 1400s, ballet has graced audiences and developed into an elegant art form familiar around the globe. But as years go by and trends evolve, so does the appreciation for ballet. “In order to keep [...] younger audiences who are exposed to such a vast array of [entertainment] interested in ballet, it is essential that the art embraces technology and utilizes its various forms to engage people,” said The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister.
“As our attitudes change towards entertainment, so too must the entertainment itself evolve.” Ballet has to keep up with the ever-changing likes of the public by introducing more innovative pieces.
“You can’t turn your TV on these days without realizing the remarkable resurgence of dance,” said Jamie Maw, the president of Ballet Kelowna. “It’s a primetime favourite, but even better, now we can watch that energy and athleticism come alive on our own stage.”
Indeed, Ballet Kelowna kicks off its 2011-12 season by presenting a mosaic of dances in Breaking Boundaries. “Expect vivid interpretations and lasting impressions,” says David LaHay, Ballet Kelowna’s Artistic Director. LaHay has assembled this collection of performances not only to showcase the talent of Ballet Kelowna’s professional corps of dancers but also to encourage “our growing audience that is highly receptive to innovation.”
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Ballet Kelowna offers a student rate at $22.40 a ticket. Grab some friends and make your way to the Kelowna Community Theatre on Oct 14th at 7:30pm or October 15th at 2pm for their upcoming performance of Breaking Boundaries. Become a Ballet Kelowna insider by following them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to catch the latest Company news, watch past performances, and see enthralling images that will be sure to move you.
