Dance Victoria Footnotes 63 (Fall 2019)

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:47 AM Page 1

Footnotes Dance Victoria’s subscriber newsletter Footnotes Sponsor

Season Sponsor

ISSUE 63 • FALL 2019 • Cherish + Aspen Santa Fe Ballet + In the Studios + more…

Dance at the Royal

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet November 15 + 16 • 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes (including intermission)

Ukrainian Shumka Dancers + Victoria Symphony Nutcracker November 29 + 30 • 7:00 pm November 30 + December 1 • 1:00 pm Royal Theatre

Photo: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in Where We Left Off by Sharen Bradford - The Dancing Image

Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes (including intermissions)

In the Studios Vanessa Goodman + Belinda McGuire Alexis Fletcher + Andrew Bartee Lindsay Delaronde

, Videos + s o t pho fo more in eb w on the

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:47 AM Page 2

2 Footnotes • Issue 63 • Fall 2019

Dance Victoria brings the World’s Best Dance to the Royal Theatre and supports the development of new dance for the international stage from its studios in Quadra Village. Dance Victoria is a non-profit charitable society. DanceVictoria.com

Dance Seen Mindfulness & A Dash of Anxiety

BY STEPHEN WHITE

Dance Victoria Board: Susan Howard

Vice President René Peloquin Treasurer

Susan Porter

Secretary

Nikki Sieben

Directors

Heather Lejeune Kari McLay Andrew Newcombe Colin Nicol Kirsty Thomson Emily Zeng

Staff: Executive Producer

Stephen White

General Manager

Bernard Sauvé

Operations Manager

Shireen McNeilage

Marketing Manager

Tracy Smith

Accounting

Julie Collins

Production Manager

Holly Vivian

Graphic Design

Rayola Creative

Advertising Sales

Bonnie Light Advertising

Events Manager Pamela Sanderson Hire a Somm If you’d like to volunteer for Dance Victoria please visit DanceVictoria.com and complete the online volunteer form.

Studios and Office: 111 – 2750 Quadra Street Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 250-595-1829 DanceVictoria.com for trailers, tickets and more information Footnotes is written by Tracy Smith and Stephen White (unless otherwise noted).

WELCOME, FRIENDS OLD AND NEW. I am very excited to share this new season of dance with you. As seasons go, 2019/20 came together quite gracefully. Some years producing a season is like struggling into a pair of skinny jeans you wore a decade ago. But we had a couple of aces up our sleeves. We co-commissioned Kidd Pivot’s Revisor and Ballet BC’s Romeo + Juliet, and when you’re a commissioning partner, that gives you a little more influence.

Romeo + Juliet is by far Ballet BC’s biggest, most ambitious production to date. The story is about two lovers in a divided town, which means you need lots of dancers, more than Ballet BC’s 16 company members.

When it had its first production in February 2018 at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Artistic Director Emily Molnar brought a bus load of young dancers from Arts Umbrella. Arts Umbrella is a remarkable professional dance training program in Vancouver that is led by Artemis Gordon. This was the part of the commission that Dance Victoria supported. We directed $25,000 from our Chrystal Dance Fund to meet the expense of giving these young dancers the opportunity to work with French choreographer Medhi Walerski in the creation and performance of this classic story.

Imagine putting this production “on the road.” First Ballet BC needed to bring it back on their season in Vancouver so that it could be well rehearsed before going out on tour. Second, the company’s NY agent needed to find another date to help with the huge overhead of that many dancers on the road. There were a few tense months here in Victoria, when we would cautiously send out a brief email asking, “how’s it looking?” There were a lot of responses from both the company and the NY agent that said, “working on it.” But Bernard and I held out hope. Thank goodness the whole team here at Dance Victoria has done some mindfulness training. We practiced our breathing (in on a count of four, out on a count of five), closing our eyes and tapping our knees, and visualizing. I visualized the curtains opening at the Royal Theatre on the simple, beautiful set and the company of remarkable dancers. And then after months of patience undercut with a dash of anxiety, it was ours! That was a happy day.

Every one of the presentations on our 2019/20 season has a back story. Lucky for you and for us, all of them ended happily. This is going to be one of the best seasons we’ve ever presented. Truly. Enjoy. FN

Photos: Stephen White by Tracy Smith. Ballet BC dancers in Romeo + Juliet by Michael Slobodian.

President

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:47 AM Page 3

DanceVictoria.com • 3

Welcome to the 2019/20 Season!

Welcome back subscribers! A big hello to all new subscribers!

We’re looking forward to an amazing season at the Royal Theatre. Below are some tips to help maximize your experience with Dance Victoria: 1. Dance Victoria has a scent-free policy. Many patrons are allergic or very sensitive to scents, experiencing immediate, severe, and potentially disabling reactions like respiratory difficulties, skin problems and neurological symptoms.

Please refrain from wearing scents of any kind (perfume, smoke, etc.) and consider alternatives that are scent-free and smoke-free.

2. Help us get your name right. If it is spelled incorrectly or something’s wrong with your contact details, call (250-595-1829) or email us (info@dancevictoria.com) and we’ll correct it.

3. Please silence your cell phones. No photos or recording of any part of the show is allowed in the theatre.

4. As a courtesy, please remain by your seat until the dancers are finished taking their bows.

5. You can buy extra tickets to any show and get the subscriber price (close to 20% off regular prices) anytime during the season. Just tell the Box Office you want the “Friend of Subscriber” price.

6. Our shows are recommended for audience members who are 12 years of age or older (with the exception of Nutcracker).

Subscribers receive emails about studio events such as Rough Cuts (intimate performances of new works) or updates about pre-show chats for our Dance at the Royal series. To minimize marketing costs and maximize the fees that we pay artists, we do this by email, so please send your email to info@dancevictoria.com and tell us that you’d like to be included in our updates. We will not trade or sell your contact information and you can unsubscribe at any time. You can also have this newsletter emailed to you rather than mailed.

FREE Pre-Show Chats Presented by

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet accompanied by Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang Join us in the lobby from 6:50 to 7:15 pm for a chat with Tom Mossbrucker, Artistic Director, and Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director, of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. They will discuss how Joyce Yang came to be a collaborator for this special evening of dance and classical piano and answer any questions you may have.

Facilitated by Dr. Allana Lindgren.

Ukrainian Shumka Dancers + Victoria Symphony Nutcracker Join us 45 minutes (12:15 pm for the matinees and 6:15 pm for the evenings) before the show for a story relating to the Shumka Nutcracker. Professional storyteller Jim Leard will recount the tale of Clara’s magical evening. Free.

Night Moves Title Sponsor Membership Sponsor Event Sponsor

Curated for 30 to 45 year olds Night Moves is an amazing night out of culture, conversations and cocktails with friends. Night Movers benefit from discounted ticket pricing to Saturday evening presentations, special seating options plus a calendar of social events at unique locations following the show. You can look forward to tastings, rocking parties and a lot more so mark your calendars. Proof of age (photo ID) required. Call 250-386-6121 or visit DanceVictoria.com

Pay Your Age Sponsored by

Calling all patrons aged 12 to 29: Pay Your Age tickets are on sale now! There are only a limited number and they always sell out before show time. Order in person at the Royal or McPherson Box Office or over the phone (250-386-6121). Proof of age (photo ID) required.

Photo: Kidd Pivot in Revisor by Michael Slobodian.

Support for Local Dancers Our local dance makers have told us that their greatest need is studio time — to create, rehearse and even perform. So we created the free Studio Access program. Approved projects receive 60 hours of free studio time and an additional 40 hours at only $5/hour. Interested in learning more? Contact Stephen White, producer@dancevictoria.com / 250-5951829 or visit our Studio Access web page on DanceVictoria.com.

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:47 AM Page 4

4 Footnotes • Issue 63 • Fall 2019

A Dream Scenario

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

LEAD SPONSORS

November 15 + 16 • 7:30 pm Royal Theatre VICTORIA AUDIENCES are in for a treat this fall when dance and live music come together in a spectacular collaboration between Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB) and world-renowned classical pianist Joyce Yang. What’s more, Yang approached them with the extraordinary idea for a dance concert.

“I’ve always imagined things when I practice and perform,” says Yang. “It’s all about colours and shapes, and when I realized that I can actually have that, not just in my imagination but happening before my eyes, it was like being able to see for the first time.”

Yang is a world-renowned pianist and an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient. Praised by the Los Angeles Times for her “compelling virtuosity and sensitivity,” she came to international attention in 2005 when she won the silver medal at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The youngest contestant at 19 years old, she took home two additional awards: the Steven De Groote Memorial Award for Best Performance of Chamber Music (with the Takàcs Quartet) and the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for Best Performance of a New Work. Since her spectacular debut, she has blossomed into an “astonishing artist” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung), who captivates audiences all over the world with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity.

When she saw ASFB perform at the Joyce Theatre in New York City, she felt so inspired she began to think about how she might collaborate with them.

“It’s been one of the most rewarding projects of our company’s history,” says Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB) Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker. “Working with someone of Joyce Yang’s calibre and

just the way that the collaborative process was with her and the dancers. She explained to us that she has been playing some of these pieces for many years, and after working with the company, she sees the work in a completely different way. It’s really changed the way she plays. It was the same for our dancers.”

Mossbrucker felt it was very important to match her with the right choreographer.

“We wanted somebody who knows the company, because with the added element of live music, it could get complicated. We also wanted to find a choreographer who really gets inspired by music, so Jorma Elo came to the top of our list.”

Elo has a long history with ASFB, which boasts four of his ballets in its repertoire. When Yang and Elo met at Steinway Hall in New York City for the first time, they immediately clicked. Yang was intent on selecting a Schumann piece for the new ballet and the two of them eventually agreed on the temperamental score of Carnaval. Elo’s final work, Half/Cut/Split is inspired by a carnival and Schumann’s multiple personality disorder and conflicting emotions.

Having Joyce right there in the studio allows the dancers to find cues in the music, strategic places to breathe, and have input into the tempo at which the music is played — all things that are crucial to the performance of a ballet. The challenge, however, is that by not using a recording, the music changes slightly with each performance. But the beauty of the performance is that each time it is alive, fresh and new for all of the artists on the stage.

The evening of live music with Yang includes two other works by renowned choreographers Fernando Melo and Nicolo Fonte. Dream Play by Melo uses video projections and innovative movement to turn six company members into an illusion that challenges the bounds of reality. None of the dancers’ feet ever touch the floor! Nicolo Fonte’s Where We Left Off focuses on dance for dance sake with white-clad dancers creating compelling, suspended shapes to the Philip Glass score. FN

Photos: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet dancer Seia Rassenti and Joyce Yang, by Michele Cardamone. Joyce Yang and Jorma Elo. Photo courtesy of Aspen anta Fe Ballet

An Evening with Classical Pianist Joyce Yang & Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:47 AM Page 5

DanceVictoria.com • 5

Ukrainian Shumka Dancers + Victoria Symphony • Nutcracker Featuring principal dancers from Opera of Ukraine’s Kyiv Ballet

Nutcracker

LEAD SPONSORS

Photos: Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in Nutcracker by Marc J. Chalifoux.

November 29 + 30 • 7:00 pm Nov. 30 + December 1 • 1:00 pm Royal Theatre WE’RE SO EXCITED to present a different kind of Nutcracker this year — one that is sure to entertain all ages!

The delightful story of young Clara, her dream prince, brave soldiers, and the meddling mice, is reimagined and proudly presented as a Ukrainian version of Tchaikovsky’s famous work. This unique blend of the grace and lyricism of classical ballet with the strength and power of Ukrainian folk dance brings a special energy and excitement to this Christmas classic.

Renowned artists of the Kyiv Ballet (National Opera of Ukraine), singers in the Clara’s Dream Choir, and young dancers from Victoria’s Veselka Dance join Shumka to make up the talented cast of artists.

With over 95 cast and crew united together in this artistic collaboration, true magic comes to life on stage.

Attending Nutcracker is a sign that the holidays are around the corner and a perfect way to get in the spirit. Subscribers enjoy a discount on regular price tickets for this production.

Note: You will see children of all ages and abilities in our Nutcracker audiences. The noise level and enthusiasm may be higher than you are accustomed to in the theatre, but that is what makes these performances special. Thank you in advance for your patience! FN

Nutcracker Kids Lead Donor

Supported in part by

Each $65 contribution brings disadvantaged kids to Nutcracker!

Every year Dance Victoria asks our community to join us in bringing moms, kids and case workers from Victoria Women’s Transition House (VWTH) to Nutcracker. In 2018, with your generous support, our Nutcracker Kids program brought 150 audience members to opening night! Each $65 contribution buys a ticket that we provide to VWTH. To help make a dream come true for local children, call us at 250595-1829 or visit DanceVictoria.com and click “Support Us.” The kids will love you for it! All donors are recognized in the Nutcracker program.

Nutcracker Ensemble Sponsor

Thank you to Cowichan Trading for keeping this tradition alive. For this year’s production, talented young dancers from Veselka Dance have the opportunity to show their Ukrainian dance skills as part of the Nutcracker Ensemble. A special thank-you to Lisa Hall at Veselka Dance for preparing the young dancers for this production.

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:48 AM Page 6

6 Footnotes • Issue 63 • Fall 2019

Dance Victoria Studios a Hub of Creation

Business Cards Rack Cards & Post Cards Newsletters & Calendars

Dance Victoria is best known for its Dance at the Royal series bringing the World’s Best Dance to Victoria, but the heart of what we do is at Dance Victoria Studios. In September, Dance Victoria welcomed Vanessa Goodman, winner of the 2019 Chrystal Dance Prize and Belinda McGuire for a two-week residency collaboration on their work, The Other Half. Ballet BC artists Alexis Fletcher and Andrew Bartee were also in residence working on a new duet, A + A. All four artists will premiere their work at Vancouver’s Chutzpah!

Festival. Lindsay Delaronde is in residence in September and October creating several projects. An excerpt of her work as well as Fletcher and Bartee’s A + A will be performed during Dance Days’ Rough Cuts on January 31 and February 1, 2020. Vancouver dancer Meredith Kalaman was also in residence for a few days in October while here for our Cherish fundraiser show.

We absolutely love hosting dance artists in our spaces. The creative energy that they bring is palpable!. FN

Brochures & Flyers

609 Dunedin St., Victoria BC V8T 2L7 250-590-2998 www.fastracprinting.com

Please send my receipt to:

Please accept my donation of: o Visionary o President’s Circle o Patron o Supporter o Associate o Friend

$2500+ $1000+ $500+ $250+ $100+ up to $99

Please recognize my/our name in the house program as: NAME/ORGANIZATION

o I have included Dance Victoria Society in my Estate Plan o I’d like to learn more about Dance Victoria’s Legacy Circle program

NAME/ORGANIZATION

ADDRESS

CITY

PROVINCE

POSTAL CODE

EMAIL

PHONE

How to donate: Thank Mail: Return this form with a cheque to: you!

Dance Victoria Society 111 – 2750 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 Phone: 250-595-1829 with your credit card in hand Online: Donate over our secure page at DanceVictoria.com In Person: at Dance Victoria Studios (we’ll give you a tour) or at the Royal and McPherson Box Offices Dance Victoria is a federally registered charity and will provide a tax-deductible receipt for all donations $10 and over. Charitable # 87377 5522 RR0001

Photo: Vanessa Goodman and Belinda McGuire, by Ben Didier.

Yes! I want Dance Victoria to thrive!

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:48 AM Page 7

DanceVictoria.com • 7

Cherish: Bigger and Better Than Ever A Glamorous Evening of Fashion & Philanthropy • October 24, 2019

Annual General Meeting Sunday, November 3, 2019 • 7:00 pm Milne Studio, Dance Victoria We hope that you can join us as we celebrate the successes of our past season and discuss our future direction.

If you have donated $10 or more to Dance Victoria Society since our last AGM (November 4, 2018), you are a “member in good standing” and can attend and vote at the AGM. If you are unsure of your status, contact us at 250595-1829 or info@dancevictoria.com.

Memberships will also be available at the meeting. Join us for the overview and stay for the reception. Please RSVP to RSVP@dancevictoria.com if you plan to attend.

Photo: Kari McLay, Kirsty Thomson and Linda Raino, courtesy of National Philanthropy Day Vancouver Island.

Kari McLay, Kirsty Thomson and Linda Raino are recognized as finalists for the Outstanding Philanthropic Community Award sponsored by Camosun College for their work with Cherish A huge THANK YOU and heartfelt appreciation to Kirsty Thomson of Willow Wealth Management of Raymond James, the Lead Sponsor of Cherish: A Glamorous Evening of Fashion and Philanthropy and to Kari McLay, the evening’s producer. At the time of the printing of this newsletter, we had sold 430 tickets, adding 30 more seats to meet the demand for this premiere event at Crystal Gardens. We’ll share photos including the cast of talented dancers grooving to music curated by DJ Mike Devlin in our next Footnotes and on social media. Our thanks to Tulipe Noire Clothing, hughes clothing, and Outlooks for Men for the gorgeous fashions, Carreiro Studio Salon for the hair styling and Beautycounter / Living Hollis Style for the make-up artistry. Thank you to Tess van Straaten — you are always an amazing emcee. This year’s event will raise essential cherished funds in support of Victoria Women’s Transition House and Dance Victoria’s community programs. We’re so thankful to the Cherish Organizing Committee for their countless hours of time and energy preparing for the event and in securing Community Champions. Special thanks to Kari McLay, Kirsty Thomson, Susan Howard, Lynda Raino, Jody Hollis, John Carreiro, Jody Auchinvole, Irma Soltonovitch, Cori Thompson, Robyn Thomas, Laura Reniero, Rayola Creative, backstage managers Jane Reside and Aeryana Castley, and front of house supervisors Pamela Sanderson and Denise Barry. FN

New Sponsors We are so thankful for the support of local businesses. We couldn’t bring the World’s Best Dance to our community if it weren’t for the support of the region’s private sector.

We welcome the following new sponsors this year: • Sotheby’s Real Estate – Andy Stephenson • mōdev developments – Steven Tranfield A big thank-you to these folks and, of course, to our returning sponsors!

Sell your home. Support Dance Victoria.

Choose a DFH realtor below and mention Dance Victoria when you buy or sell your property. Ten percent of the realtor’s commission helps bring The World’s Best Dance to our community.

Dorothee Friese | dorothee@shaw.ca • 250-477-7291

Peter Crichton | crichton@islandnet.com • 250-477-7291

Terry Moore | tlmoore@shaw.ca • 250-477-7291

Maureen Vincent | maureenvincent68@gmail.com • 250-656-0131

John Melvin | john@johnmelvinproperties.ca • 250-477-7291

Rosemary Tulett | homes@rosemarytulett.com • 250-477-7291

DV 2019-20 Footnotes - 63 ASFB.qxp_DV 2019 Footnotes - FN 63 ASFB 2019-10-23 11:48 AM Page 8

8 Footnotes • Issue 63 • Fall 2019

Next DANCE DAYS It’ll Move You January 31 to February 9, 2020 In studios all over town Dance Days is back for 10 days — when local studios offer free adult dance classes in all kinds of styles — ballet, ballroom, tap, barre, efunk and more. Start 2020 off right by trying something new and fun and get moving! Look for the complete online calendar of classes at DanceVictoria.com in January 2020.

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO February 4, 2020 • 8:00 – ONE NIGHT ONLY! Royal Theatre

Subscribers can buy now!

During Dance Days 2020, we present Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the world’s foremost all male, comic ballet company, on February 4 at the Royal Theatre.

This is the Trocks’ first time in Victoria and you do not want to miss this one-night show!

A man with a hairy chest in a tutu might elicit a quick laugh. A man en pointe knocking off 24 fouettées with technical precision and astonishing speed turns laughter into disbelief, amazement and then delirious delight. They dance ALL the parts. They are rebels on pointe. Their light-hearted approach to dance is contagious which is why they tour

a daunting 200 nights of the year!

Tickets make an incredible Christmas gift.

Only subscribers can buy tickets and ensure best seats to this performance before November 18, 2019 when single tickets go on sale. Don’t delay and TROCK today.

Tickets: 250-386-6121 or DanceVictoria.com

ROUGH CUTS PRODUCER’S SELECTION January 31 + February 1, 2020 Metro Studio Theatre (Quadra at Johnson)

A curated selection of new works by exciting west coast artists. Save the dates and look for more details online in January at DanceVictoria.com. Note: We are pleased to offer these performances for free, but we also encourage donations to continue to feed the development of new work.

Dance at the Royal Best Seats. Best Prices. The World’s Best Dance.

ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET CONTEMPORARY BALLET Accompanied by Grammy-nominated classical pianist Joyce Yang

November 15 + 16, 2019 • 7:30 pm Where We Left Off – Nicolo Fonte Dream Play – Fernando Melo Half/Cut/Split – Jorma Elo

Plus Additional Presentations UKRAINIAN SHUMKA DANCERS + VICTORIA SYMPHONY CLASSICAL BALLET + FOLK November 29 + 30, 2019 • 7:00 pm November 30 + December 1, 2019 • 1:00 pm

KIDD PIVOT CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE

Nutcracker – Viktor Lytvynov & John Pichlyk

February 7 + 8, 2020 • 7:30 pm Revisor – Crystal Pite & Jonathon Young

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO COMIC BALLET

BALLET BC CONTEMPORARY BALLET

February 4, 2020 • 8:00 pm – ONE NIGHT ONLY!

March 13 + 14, 2020 • 7:30 pm Romeo + Juliet – Medhi Walerski

TANIA PÉREZ-SALAS COMPAÑÍA DE DANZA CONTEMPORARY May 1 + 2, 2020 • 7:30 pm Ex-Stasis & Other Works – Tania Pérez-Salas

Mixed repertoire

Note: Subscribers can buy additional tickets to Dance Victoria any time of the year and save 20%. All performances are at the Royal Theatre.