Ballet Kelowna closes season with electrifying programme from Canada's finest choreographers and composers

Image Credit: Contributed

March 25, 2016 - 5:00 PM

KELOWNA - Ballet Kelowna closes its 2015/16 season with an unparalleled mixed programme of live music and contemporary ballet from some of Canada’s most celebrated choreographers and composers in Renaissance, April 29 and 30, 2016, at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and at Oliver’s Frank Venables Theatre, May 1, 2016.

“I am thrilled and honoured to close our 2015/16 season with this incredible line-up of exceptional dance and music talent,” says Artistic Director and CEO Simone Orlando. “It is such a privilege, and rare opportunity, to have assembled some of our country’s finest artists, including Heather Myers, celebrated choreographer and former dancer with the Nederlands Dans Theater, James Kudelka, and John Alleyne, former Artistic Director of Ballet BC, with two all-stars from The National Ballet of Canada, Hannah Fischer and Ethan Watts, and Toronto’s Continuum Contemporary Music - for what promises to be a truly unforgettable celebration of the arts.”

The extreme athleticism and depth of emotion of Ballet Kelowna’s company of artists will be on full display in a series of new and remounted works from renowned Canadian choreographers Myers, Kudelka, Alleyne, and Ballet Kelowna Artistic Director and CEO Simone Orlando.

Also on the programme, and making their highly anticipated British Columbia debut, The National Ballet of Canada’s rising stars, Hannah Fischer and Ethan Watts, will perform a rousing duet titled The Wild Space Between Two Hearts choreographed by Robert Binet, Choreographic Associate with The National Ballet. Fischer will further demonstrate her remarkable skill in the world premiere of a solo (title TBA), also choreographed by Binet.

To amplify the mixed programme, Toronto’s award-winning Continuum Contemporary Music will provide live accompaniment for all works, performing famous early music compositions from the Renaissance period, along with newly commissioned works by Jocelyn Morlock and Michael Oesterle inspired by early music masters Henry Purcell and Marin Marais.

The full evening’s repertoire will consist of:

The Wild Space Between Two Hearts • Choreography: Robert Binet • Music: Hilary Hahn & Hauschka
A highly energetic, contemporary work originally created for The National Ballet of Canada’s Fischer and Watts for the 2015 Erik Bruhn Prize (for which Fischer was awarded best female dancer). The spellbinding performance was choreographed to illuminate the pair’s exceptional technical precision and lyrical aesthetic.

World Premiere (Title TBA) • Choreography: Robert Binet • Music: TBA
Still in creation, Binet – whose choreography has been touted as “remarkably poetic” by The New York Times – will showcase the inimitable skill of Fischer, one to watch at The National Ballet, who was promoted to Second Soloist in 2015, and has danced such lead roles as Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Principal Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty.

Before and After (World Premiere) • Choreography: Simone Orlando • Music: Jocelyn Morlock
Choreographed by Ballet Kelowna’s own Artistic Director and CEO, this vivid, quick-paced new work examines the cyclical nature of artistic creation, how past performances influence creation today, which then serves as stimulation for future generations.

World Premiere (Title TBA) • Choreography: Heather Myers • Music: Michael Oesterle
The internationally celebrated choreographer and former dancer with the Nederlands Dans Theater weaves a vibrant, fanciful tale that indulges the senses. A multi-faceted musical composition inspires this playful work for five dancers, that conjures up the madness and magic of artists past and present.

Byrd Music • Choreography: James Kudelka • Music: Rodney Sharman
A remounting of the highly regarded work by renowned and inventive choreographer Kudelka, Byrd Music’s creative interplay between technical precision and expressive musicality will be further enhanced through live musical accompaniment.

Split House Geometric • Choreography: John Alleyne • Music: Arvo Part
A bold and energetic work characterized by halting flow and high-octane, technical movements, Split House Geometric was first created for The National Ballet of Canada, and will be performed for the first time by Ballet Kelowna.

Renaissance is the third and final performance in Ballet Kelowna’s 2015/16 season. Single tickets are on sale now at: kelownatickets.com