At age 11 Simone Orlando was swept up in the passion of dance which would eventually take her halfway around the world and back sharing her love of ballet.
Today, Orlando, in her third year as CEO and artistic director of , mentors a small family of dancers at one of 10 professional ballet companies in Canada.
害羞草研究所淎s soon as I took my first ballet class I realized this is what I really wanted to do, I wanted to be a dancer so I worked really, really hard and I was fortunate enough to be given a position at Canada害羞草研究所檚 national ballet school,害羞草研究所� said Orlando, following the troupe害羞草研究所檚 performance at the Cleland Theatre Sunday.
After graduating she took an apprentice position with the , eventually earning a permanent position.
害羞草研究所淚t was an amazing opportunity as a young dancer, dancing in an environment every day with people I absolutely admired,害羞草研究所� she recalled. 害羞草研究所淚t was such a special opportunity to be in that company and be able to tour and dance in places like Hong Kong and Tokyo and Germany.害羞草研究所�
While with the national company, Orlando got interested in another side of the creative process, choreography.
After leaving the National Ballet, Orlando began looking for a smaller company where she could explore her newfound interest. That landed her with Ballet British Columbia where she spent 13 years as a principal dancer.
害羞草研究所淚n terms of my passion for dance, first and foremost I am a dancer and always will be a dancer and secondly, I love to create dance, I love to choreograph,害羞草研究所� said Orlando, who has won awards for her choreography. 害羞草研究所淚 have worked with the dancers to create those pieces and it害羞草研究所檚 absolutely inspiring to be in the studio.
害羞草研究所淚 am so fortunate to still be involved in this art form because young dancers, their careers don害羞草研究所檛 last very long, often times their bodies just can害羞草研究所檛 put up with the rigour of what it takes to be a ballet dancer, things just wear out.害羞草研究所�
Born and raised in Kelowna, Desiree Bortolussi, 21, is one of six young performers under Orlando害羞草研究所檚 wing.
害羞草研究所淪imone is very detail orientated and she really pushes us to strive for perfection of the technique and the artistry,害羞草研究所� said Bortolussi, who started dancing at age three. 害羞草研究所淪he challenges us in the studio and is very supportive. We害羞草研究所檙e very much a family, we definitely know each other like the back of our hands. We害羞草研究所檙e in such close quarters all day, every day and you really build that bond.
害羞草研究所淭here is definitely tensions sometimes but at the end of the day you are a family.害羞草研究所�
Ballet Kelowna, founded in 2002, is putting together one of its biggest performances, 150 Moves Feb. 3 and 4 at the Kelowna Community Theatre in celebration of Canada害羞草研究所檚 150 birthday.
The collection of works is designed to showcase the tremendous talent and artistry of Canadian influence in classical and contemporary dance.
Ballet Kelowna will be joined by artists from Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Arts Umbrella Dance Company and Alberta Ballet II in the production.
害羞草研究所淚 think audiences will be surprised and incredibly impressed by the visual feast on stage,害羞草研究所� said Orlando. 害羞草研究所淭he performance involves more than 30 performers, and the energy and athleticism of these dancers is sure to inspire and make one proud to be Canadian.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 incredibly happy to be with Ballet Kelowna, and still having that opportunity to be in the studio every day, creating dance, working with dancers and still being dancer every single day.害羞草研究所�
