Blending music and dance has been common for centuries. But less common for Ballet Kelowna and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.

The two groups will combine together tonight to celebrate Canadasa国际传媒檚 150th birthday.

The upcoming performance titled Canadiana Suite: A Sesquicentennial Celebration is a special tribute, May 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Simone Orlando, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Kelowna, said the program has been in the works for two years.

The Capital News visited the artistssa国际传媒� first dress rehearsal, seeing the artists perform together for the first time.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e had to redefine how we brought the orchestra and ballet together on stage,sa国际传媒� said Orlando, adding the symphony sits on a scaffolding set which gives the dancers room to perform on stage.

The first half of the program carries the theme of trains and the journey through Canada via train, at one point utilizing Gordon Lightfootsa国际传媒檚 Canadian Railroad Trilogy, sa国际传媒淚 think what this choreography shows is that itsa国际传媒檚 the energy, itsa国际传媒檚 a journey building a nation and the dancers are moving like crazy for the eight minutes. Theysa国际传媒檙e all over the stage. They move as a unit and then they separate and come and move back together,sa国际传媒� said Orlando.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 almost like the corners of the nation are coming together and meeting and dispersing forwardsa国际传媒� It really has a sense of momentum.sa国际传媒�

The combining of Ballet Kelowna and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Orlando said is sa国际传媒渇antastic.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a collaboration on a scale I donsa国际传媒檛 think this community has seen and we really hope through our partnership, we create a model for organizations to move forward together.sa国际传媒�

Orlando hopes to work with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra again in the future.

According to a Ballet Kelowna release, sa国际传媒淭he OSO brings the magic of live music celebrating Canadian music icons including R. Murray Shafer, Gordon Lightfoot and Oscar Peterson with a specially commissioned arrangement by Lance Anderson, and guest performances by local jazz ensemble The Neville Bowman Trio, and renowned blues artist Shakura Ssa国际传媒橝ida.sa国际传媒�

Tickets can be purchased through Ballet Kelownasa国际传媒檚 .