Ballet Jörgen’s Anastasia
Anastasia – Dance Series
Ballet Jörgen
Tuesday, February 20 2018 – 7:30pm
Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre
$45 Adult – $42 Senior – $40 Student
Discounts available for members of the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society
For the third show in our 2017/2018 Dance Series, the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society is proud to present Ballet Jörgen’s Anastasia, on Tuesday, February 20 2018 at 7:30 pm.
Canada’s Ballet Jörgen takes us all the way back to 1918 Russia with their presentation of Anastasia. This full-length story ballet is brought to our stage, celebrating the well-known story’s 100th anniversary. Set to an original score by Russian/Canadian composer Ivan Barbotin, Anastasia features a 16-person ensemble and flawless direction from choreographer Bengt Jörgen.
Anastasia centers around a seventeen-year-old Grand Duchess who is born to privilege but cast out into a post-revolutionary world. Find out what will become of her as the innocent daughter of the fallen Russian Tsar faces love, loss and heartache in an unknown world. This popular tale has inspired a multitude of books, movies and musicals over the last century, making the character the subject of modern mythology.
Bengt Jörgen, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Jörgen, chose Anastasia based on his personal interest in Russian history and the real-life disappearance of the young girl in 1918. Having worked with composer Ivan Barbotin before on two of the company’s most popular ballets The Velveteen Rabbit and The Emperor’s New Clothes, their partnership has made the production impossible to resist.
Paired with breathtaking costumes, impressive sets and superb lighting, Anastasia invites audiences to discover the tragic mystery of the young Grand Duchess and explore romance and mythology in the ballrooms of St. Petersburg and beyond.
The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society is also organizing a variety of community engagement activities with Ballet Jörgen during their stay:
- An exciting opportunity for local dancers: Ballet Jörgen is looking for 9 local student dancers to participate with the company in their performance of Anastasia. The cast will be assembled from local area students, based on a recommendation by their dance/theatre teachers. The deadline to submit a recommendation is January 28, 2018. For more information, contact local participant coordinator Clea Iveson at 416-415-5000 xt 4928 or education@balletjorgen.ca.
- We’ll be hosting a Ballet Masterclass for ages 14+ with a company dancer from Ballet Jörgen on Sunday, February 18 2018 – 10:00-11:45am. This workshop is $20 and includes a ticket to see Anastasia. Pre-
registration is required by calling Ticket Seller at 250-549-7469. - Ballet Jörgen will be holding auditions! Auditions will take place after the Masterclass from 12:00-1:15pm. Students interested in auditioning must attend the Masterclass as part of their audition process, and the second half will hold the Pointe, Repertoire, and Interview portion of the audition. This is very exciting, as usually Ballet Jorgen only auditions in Vancouver, Edmonton and on the East Coast. So, to have them auditioning in the Okanagan is a real treat! Students interested in auditioning simply need to indicate this when they register for the Masterclass.
- The Okanagan Regional Library will be hosting Ballet Jörgen for a “Ballet 101” workshop on Monday, February 19th. “Ballet 101” gives kids the opportunity to learn about ballet as a storytelling medium. Children learn basic ballet positions, discover their own ability to convey emotions through movement, see brief selections performed by 2 or 3 professional dancers, try out some steps and ask lots of questions. They also bring costumes and pointe shoes for the kids to investigate! This event is organized through the Vernon Public Library and the schools, and is not open to the public.
- Ballet Jörgen will be giving a Pointe Shoe Clinic on Monday, February 19th at 5:00pm at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. This is a free workshop for all those interested, including dancers, teachers and parents. Please pre-register through the Ticket Seller Box Office.
Tickets for Anastasia are $45 for adults, $42 for seniors, $40 for students and are now on sale through the Ticket Seller Box Office by calling 250-549-SHOW (7469) or online at www.ticketseller.ca.
The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre thanks the following sponsors for their generous support:
Village Green Inn, Telus, Summit Financial Planners, Vernon Morning Star, Okanagan Advertiser, Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy, Regional District of the North Okanagan, British Columbia Arts Council, Province of British Columbia, Government of Canada
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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Keyanna Burgher
Audience Development
Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre
p. 542 9355
