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