There害羞草研究所檚 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 Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 own alumni.
Robb Beresford, 29, started his ballet career with Ballet Kelowna in 2007.
Hailing from Ontario, Beresford danced with Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 small ballet team for a year.
害羞草研究所淚t was great 害羞草研究所� 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. There害羞草研究所檚 a lot of opportunities to be on stage, but it害羞草研究所檚 a lot of work.害羞草研究所�
Now, Beresford has his dream job, dancing with Alonzo King LINES Ballet. He joined the company in 2013.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing. Working with Alonzo is like a dancer害羞草研究所檚 dream. We do lots of amazing travel for work.害羞草研究所�
He has opportunities to share ideas and be creative, helping sculpt the performances.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 definitely a chance to be more creative than a lot of dancers get to be,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 think because built into Alonzo害羞草研究所檚 process is investing time and to develop the dancer害羞草研究所檚 voice instead of just getting them to do the steps. That害羞草研究所檚 a gift to get to work that way and not simply be a tool for the artist.
害羞草研究所淚 think that really helps me understand for myself what it is I want to say because once you害羞草研究所檙e asked to find your voice and dance in a way that害羞草研究所檚 meaningful to you, you ask yourself what you害羞草研究所檙e trying to say with it. It took me on my next step in my artistic journey,害羞草研究所� he said.
He害羞草研究所檚 excited to revisit Kelowna; it feels surreal to him to see how far he害羞草研究所檚 come.
His favourite performance is SAND, one if the two performances that will be shown at the Kelowna Community Theatre, March 7.
害羞草研究所淚 particularly love to dance that ballet. It害羞草研究所檚 just a beautiful piece of choreography. It害羞草研究所檚 always a nice time to be on stage.害羞草研究所�
Ever since Beresford can remember, he害羞草研究所檚 been intrigued by music and danced for friends and family.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 never been any question that it害羞草研究所檚 the thing that I love to do,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渆xtraordinary害羞草研究所� dancer.
害羞草研究所淗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,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not really concerned about my ideas. The idea that I害羞草研究所檓 attached to is that the work is well-made and the communication of the idea is clear. It害羞草研究所檚 about how do you build something interesting,害羞草研究所� he said.
This is the first time LINES Ballet is performing in Kelowna.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important for us to go to places that would otherwise not have the opportunity to see us. We don害羞草研究所檛 just want to go the huge opera houses of the world. We want to go where people love to dance. It害羞草研究所檚 wanting to ignite other lights and inspire them and wanting to inspire them in some way.害羞草研究所� said King.
It害羞草研究所檚 hard to describe what the performances will look like because they害羞草研究所檙e subjective, said King.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 pretty tricky to see something in a clear, unprejudiced way,害羞草研究所� he said, adding he loves when children watch as they see the performances in a unique way.
害羞草研究所淚 would advise people to come and experience it. I (would) want to open myself and find resonance and how it speaks to me. I don害羞草研究所檛 want to hear the interpretation of what the work is.害羞草研究所�
The San Francisco company has been in operation since 1982.
害羞草研究所淚 would say that as you mature with work you want to become more systematic,害羞草研究所� said King.
See the .
Tickets to the performances are available at Ballet Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 website .
