Theresa国际传媒檚 more to ballet than learning the steps.
It involves dedication and creativity, which is what San Francisco-based Alonzo King LINES Ballet brings to the stage.
Full of diverse dancers from all over the world, LINES Ballet includes one of Ballet Kelownasa国际传媒檚 own alumni.
Robb Beresford, 29, started his ballet career with Ballet Kelowna in 2007.
Hailing from Ontario, Beresford danced with Kelownasa国际传媒檚 small ballet team for a year.
sa国际传媒淚t was great sa国际传媒� it was a lot of work. I have a lot of respect for dancers in that company because I know how grueling it is to be in such a small company. Theresa国际传媒檚 a lot of opportunities to be on stage, but itsa国际传媒檚 a lot of work.sa国际传媒�
Now, Beresford has his dream job, dancing with Alonzo King LINES Ballet. He joined the company in 2013.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 amazing. Working with Alonzo is like a dancersa国际传媒檚 dream. We do lots of amazing travel for work.sa国际传媒�
He has opportunities to share ideas and be creative, helping sculpt the performances.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 definitely a chance to be more creative than a lot of dancers get to be,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 think because built into Alonzosa国际传媒檚 process is investing time and to develop the dancersa国际传媒檚 voice instead of just getting them to do the steps. Thatsa国际传媒檚 a gift to get to work that way and not simply be a tool for the artist.
sa国际传媒淚 think that really helps me understand for myself what it is I want to say because once yousa国际传媒檙e asked to find your voice and dance in a way thatsa国际传媒檚 meaningful to you, you ask yourself what yousa国际传媒檙e trying to say with it. It took me on my next step in my artistic journey,sa国际传媒� he said.
Hesa国际传媒檚 excited to revisit Kelowna; it feels surreal to him to see how far hesa国际传媒檚 come.
His favourite performance is SAND, one if the two performances that will be shown at the Kelowna Community Theatre, March 7.
sa国际传媒淚 particularly love to dance that ballet. Itsa国际传媒檚 just a beautiful piece of choreography. Itsa国际传媒檚 always a nice time to be on stage.sa国际传媒�
Ever since Beresford can remember, hesa国际传媒檚 been intrigued by music and danced for friends and family.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 never been any question that itsa国际传媒檚 the thing that I love to do,sa国际传媒� he said.
Choreographer and creator of the company Alonzo King said Beresford has a quiet nature, but a deep understanding of choreography and is an sa国际传媒渆xtraordinarysa国际传媒� dancer.
sa国际传媒淗e has a depth of understanding that is both broad and deep. He has a solid technique and has a personal take on choreography that I find intriguing,sa国际传媒� said King.
There is a flow of communication between dancers and King and he listens to the dancers and wants them to add their experiences.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 not really concerned about my ideas. The idea that Isa国际传媒檓 attached to is that the work is well-made and the communication of the idea is clear. Itsa国际传媒檚 about how do you build something interesting,sa国际传媒� he said.
This is the first time LINES Ballet is performing in Kelowna.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 important for us to go to places that would otherwise not have the opportunity to see us. We donsa国际传媒檛 just want to go the huge opera houses of the world. We want to go where people love to dance. Itsa国际传媒檚 wanting to ignite other lights and inspire them and wanting to inspire them in some way.sa国际传媒� said King.
Itsa国际传媒檚 hard to describe what the performances will look like because theysa国际传媒檙e subjective, said King.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 pretty tricky to see something in a clear, unprejudiced way,sa国际传媒� he said, adding he loves when children watch as they see the performances in a unique way.
sa国际传媒淚 would advise people to come and experience it. I (would) want to open myself and find resonance and how it speaks to me. I donsa国际传媒檛 want to hear the interpretation of what the work is.sa国际传媒�
The San Francisco company has been in operation since 1982.
sa国际传媒淚 would say that as you mature with work you want to become more systematic,sa国际传媒� said King.
See the .
Tickets to the performances are available at Ballet Kelownasa国际传媒檚 website .
