Ballet Kelowna’s taqəš and Other Works program at the Capitol on March 9 features a stunning line-up of signature works from their contemporary ballet repertoire.
But before their feet hit the stage, Sláva Doval’s dance studio will present the opening act with the generous support of an Osprey Foundation grant. Cloe Comstock, Danielle Horton and Indera Havers will begin the show along with onstage musician Nella Banner, in a piece entitled Reflect, choreographed by Acacia Schachte.
This work explores these pieces with three dancers representing one person being pulled apart and in different directions, their struggle, and a desire to feel whole. Banner will reflect this journey through sound with an original composition played live during the performance.
This dynamic evening will continue with John Alleyne’s Split House Geometric during which poetic moments of pure contemporary ballet are juxtaposed with counterbalanced bodies creating geometric shapes to brilliant effect. First created for the National Ballet of Canada, this vigorous, precision-perfect work is set to Fratres by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
Next, National Ballet of Canada choreographic associate Guillaume Côté brings strength and fragility to a fascinating interpretation of the beloved Bolero by Maurice Ravel, one of music’s most famous and identifiable melodies. A “riveting tour de force” (Dance Magazine), Bolero features breath-taking lifts and virtuosic choreography.
Rounding out the program is taqəš. In his first work for Ballet Kelowna, Vernon-raised emerging choreographer Cameron Fraser-Monroe brings his classical ballet training, knowledge of traditional Coast Salish grass and hoop dance, and experience as a contemporary dancer to taqəš, which means “to return something” in Ayajuthem.
Set to several songs by Polaris Prize-winning composer and singer Jeremy Dutcher, taqəš follows the traditional story Raven Returns the Water, centred around Raven and Frog.
“It is very important that First Nations peoples tell our own stories,” says Fraser-Monroe, a member of the Tla’amin First Nation in Powell River, B.C. “While our stories do not have morals, they do communicate our ways of life, and I found messages about water, greed, community, and justice to be relevant today.”
You can catch both local and visiting dancers on March 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets can be purchased by visiting or calling the Capitol Theatre box office (opening hours 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 250-354-6363) or by making an online booking at capitoltheatre.bc.ca