Gioconda Barbuto and Emily Molnar, acclaimed as two of Canada’s most outstanding dancers and accomplished choreographers, join forces for the first time in LifeLines, a stunning new duet created in collaboration with video artist and photographer Michael Slobodian. Montreal-based Barbuto was a much-loved star soloist with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens for many years and then went on to perform with the world-renowned Nederlands Dans Theater III; Vancouver-based Molnar danced with the internationally acclaimed Frankfurt Ballet and transfixed local audiences as a dancer with Ballet British Columbia; both are now established as talented creators in their own right. LifeLines is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see these powerhouse performers on stage together, in an exquisite exploration of their individual journeys through movement and images: an intimate conversation about life, consequence and the passage of time.
From contemporary and ballet to flamenco and hip hop, the annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House offers the chance to sample a host of dance styles in a day of open classes, studio showings and events. Highlights include an intimate studio performance by Ballet British Columbia introduced by Artistic Director John Alleyne; a studio preview of Alcan Award-winner Wen Wei Dance’s new work in progress; open classes in hip hop, flamenco, bellydance, street dance, Afro-Cuban, yoga, Pilates and more, with 605 Collective, Spanish Passion Productions, Lava Bellydance, SVS Style, Latidos Productions, and others; and an evening performance of LuminUs, a new work choreographed by Chengxin Wei for his company Moving Dragon, presented through the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award. (LuminUs also runs on Friday September 12.)
Daytime events run 12 noon-5pm and are free, except for the Ballet BC Studio Performance (suggested donation $5). Tickets for Moving Dragon's performance at 8pm are $26/$18 from www.ticketstonight.ca. For the full schedule of events and more details visit www.thedancecentre.ca.
Rodeo
Choreography by Agnes de Mille, music by Aaron Copland
This energetic, comedic ballet is filled with tap dancing, square dancing, innocence and romance. A great love story of the American Southwest, Rodeo is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
Allegro Brillante
Choreography by George Balanchine, music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
One of the greatest ballet choreographers of the 20th century, George Balanchine created this landmark work for the New York City Ballet to showcase the technical precision and the breadth of gesture of the dancers.
