Ballet BC Program 2, 30th Anniversary Season.

I love Ballet BC.  Emily Molnar the artistic director brings a unique perspective to Vancouver. Ballet BC is  extraordinary  modern dance.  Every show I’m lifted out of the mundane into a different dimension where sound and movement mesh in specific and peculiar ways that expand my everyday seeing. Tonight’s two pieces by French choreographer Mehdi Walerski, Prelude and Natus, again did just that.  They were so different that were it not for the program I’d not have known they were by  the same choreographer. As ever the dancers were gifted and spectacular, hard half naked glistening contortionist bodies of elegance and discipline.
I loved the Prelude duet by Rachel Meyer and Scott Fowler.  Peter Smida playing the Man in Natus was everything from hilarious to hysterical.  “Where is the party?”  This line was  repeated through the dance in an almost Kafkesque way. The dancers moved rhythmically to a mixture of drums and words. The amazing set of distorted mirrors and burlesque lighting created a truly special space.
As the curtain closed, the audience burst forth in shouts of Bravo.  The cast bowed again and again as the standing ovation crescendoed.  What a truly culturally rich evening of unforgettable performances.  

Giselle-Ballet BC

I so enjoyed the world premiere Ballet BC,Giselle, choreographed by the extraordinary Jose Navas.  The blending of classical and modern forms created the most wonderful avante garde  performance  of this great traditional French folk tale.  Adolphe Adams whimsical and serene music was paired to the dance as if the performers had been written in as staffs and notes.  "Of course," I thought time and again, "those movements are simply perfectly matched to the score!"

The dancers themselves were unsurpassable.  The leads, Alexis Fletcher, Maggie Fogeron, Connor Gnam, Alexander Burton, and Gilbert Small were interpretative geniuses with every expression of their bodies coupled to each other, the music and the mood of this terribly moving story of the star crossed lovers.

Lino's set with the simplicity of hanging ropes and the high screen movie back drop of slow moving scenes of petals and clouds  was truly ingenious.  I loved the snatches of words, reminiscent of e.e. cummings, that appeared cryptically, almost teasingly, as a poetic sub text.   Linda Chow's costumes were point and counterpoint to the cultural sense of love and romance, both hidden and exposed.   All combined to explode the senses, touch the heart and free the mind of the viewer.

I felt I could have been in Europe or New York, the cutting edge work was so artistically refined and professionally polished.  Standing ovations, roses, bows and more bows, bravos, and curtain calls were all well deserved.

It was a shock to find myself back in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre lobby surrounded by other Vancouverites.  Looking at the haute couture dresses of some of the beautiful young women and the studied appearances of the handsome  young men about me as I departed,  I might as well have been at fashion week in Paris or Hong Kong.  I keep forgetting that Vancouver has become a artistically diverse city with countless denizens sufficiently sophisticated to appreciate even the highest forms of cultural advance.  

Artistic Director Emily Molnar had announced to great applause that Ballet BC had already nearly met their  spring fund raising campaign goals. The announced line up for shows in the coming year looks tantalizing.  Driving home I felt my spirit lifted by the ballet, my mind challenged and my heart touched. I love art when it's so truly accomplished,  original and moving.

 

Ballet BC - Three Fold

Another sensational night at the ballet.  Diversion by Robert Glumbeck was original and intriguing with extraordinary modern dance.  Walter Matteini's Parole Sospese was downright weird in the best of way. Right out there.  Existential wonderland.  Simone Orlando's Doppeling was retro at it's finest.  Normally I'm simply enthralled by Maikalla Wallace, Alexis Fletcher, Dario Dinuzzi,  and Gilbert Small.  I love the wisdom of their experienced dance interpretation. Yet tonight all the members of the company stood out.  Rachel Meyer was so fresh, Andrea Pena passionate and Alyson Fretz sophisticated in a particularly European way.  Connor Gnam and Alexander Burton were particularly outstanding.  Rachel Prince, Peter Smida, Maggie Fogeron, Livona Ellis, Jed Duifhuis, Chisto Ide, Daniel Marshalsay, and Darren Devaney all were a delight. I'm sorry I can't put faces to names with some of the older and some of newer members because all their pas de deux, leaps and lifts deserved individual mention after tonights superb dance performance.  I truly think that Bach would love what Simone Orlando did for his timeless music. Kate Burrows, Linda Chow and Ina Broeckx's costume designs were genius. Artistic Director Emily Molnar continues to inspire. We are truly blessed by her and Executive Director, Jay Rankin's vision.  Tonight Fasken Martineau was celebrated as Season Sponsor.

Ballet BC - Elton John

Tonight's ballet was a one in a million.  Emilene Molnar, artistic director of Ballet BC, welcomed Alberta Ballet to Vancouver. "Love Lies Bleeding"choreography and libretto by Jean Claude Maitre , featuring music of Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin was a resounding success. Costume Design by Martine Bertrand was way over the top, just the way Elton would have liked it. Set design by Guaillame Lord was equally spectacular.  With all the glitz, verve and downright sexy show biz, the incredible form and style of the impressive dancers still shone through. "Rocket Man" was my favourite but then I've loved always loved the song. The  choreography and starlit dance  added a whole new dimension to my appreciation of the genius of Elton John and Taupin.  I'm sure the pas de dieux of two men was the most elegant I've seen in modern ballet.  I was almost in tears at the performance of "Someone saved my life tonight" It's a show not to miss. Packed audience tonight but another night to go with a few seats left.

http://www.balletbc.com/loveliesbleeding.html

Ballet BC IGNITE!

The standing ovation said it all. Emily Molnar's, World Premiere, Dedica, was contemporary ballet at it's finest. Rich in symbolism and flowing with powerful emotion the dancers performed sensationally individually and as a troop falling, twisting, turning, frollicking and leaping with sheer abandon. Arms, legs, heads and torsos reeled with grace and poise to the joyful strains of Vivaldi. What pleasure it was to see the Ballet BC dancers back after such a threat to the company. Makaila Wallace,Shannon Smith, Donald Sales, Alexis Fletcher, Shannon Ferguson, Leon Feizo-Gas, Maggie Forgeron, Racheal Prince, Marianne Bauer-Grobbelaar, Delphine Leroux, Gilbert Small, Peter Smida, and Connor Gnam with apprentices, Alyson Fretz and Alex Parrett. These are truly great names of dance.

In addiction, dancers from the National Ballet of Canada, artistic director, Karen Kain, performed classical works like the delightful Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty. Guillaume Cote danced as powerfully as Tchaikovsky's music while Heather Ogden created beauty with the delicacy of her every move. The Pas de Deux from Lady of the Camellias to Chopin was danced most touchingly by Sonia Rodriguez and Piotr Stanczyk. Their opening piece was the George Balanchine Apollo in which Three Muses, Calliope of Poetry danced by Jillian Vanstone, Polyhymnia of Mime, danced by Stacey Shiori Minagawa and Terpsichore of Dance and Song, instruct the young God, Apollo danced by Guillaume Cote.

The first intermission followed this number and the vestibule was buzzing with appreciation.

Dr. Leslie of the Board had proudly shouted ,"Ballet BC is Back!" to cheers before introducing Jay Rankin from Toronto Dance Theatre as the new Executive Director and Emily Molnar as the new interim artistic director. Jay and Emily expressed their heartfelt thanks to all the Ballet BC supporters.

The atmosphere was one of almost family festivity as friends celebrated together this grand community event. For whatever reason the ladys had collectively come out in the finest display of beautiful shoes possibly to be seen in Vancouver. Compared to opera and theatre the ballet audiences are above and beyond the most tastefully and interestingly dressed. Intermission people watching was at a premium as everyone somehow knew this was one of those rare nights that would be long remembered.

Ballet BC http://www.balletbc.com/ the National Ballethttp://www.national.ballet.ca/ with the works of Karen Kain and Emily Molnar and dancers of the finest orders, We were truly priviledged to be present. It portends so well for the rest of the season. Ballet BC certainly is ignited!