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 Canada害羞草研究所檚 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 artists害羞草研究所� first dress rehearsal, seeing the artists perform together for the first time.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had to redefine how we brought the orchestra and ballet together on stage,害羞草研究所� 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 Lightfoot害羞草研究所檚 Canadian Railroad Trilogy, 害羞草研究所淚 think what this choreography shows is that it害羞草研究所檚 the energy, it害羞草研究所檚 a journey building a nation and the dancers are moving like crazy for the eight minutes. They害羞草研究所檙e all over the stage. They move as a unit and then they separate and come and move back together,害羞草研究所� said Orlando.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 almost like the corners of the nation are coming together and meeting and dispersing forward害羞草研究所� It really has a sense of momentum.害羞草研究所�

The combining of Ballet Kelowna and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Orlando said is 害羞草研究所渇antastic.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a collaboration on a scale I don害羞草研究所檛 think this community has seen and we really hope through our partnership, we create a model for organizations to move forward together.害羞草研究所�

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

According to a Ballet Kelowna release, 害羞草研究所淭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 S害羞草研究所橝ida.害羞草研究所�

Tickets can be purchased through Ballet Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 .