With the support of the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Saskatchewan's White Birch Ballet Company will be coming to the Battlefords as the final stop on its five-city Ballet Across the Prairies tour.
The company performs Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Chapel Gallery.
"This November event has been specially designed for the residents of the Battlefords to be an elegant evening featuring artists of the community," says founding artistic director Darlene Williams.
"The collaboration of local artists with Saskatchewan's White Birch Ballet is unique to this Battleford tour and we think it will be a great grand finale to the past three months of touring," says board member Laura Harris.
Audience members will be greeted at the door by the Kamala Choir under the direction of Diane Gryba. The evening will include a catered meal with table wine in elegant white décor surrounded by the landscape paintings of Unity's Dorothy Knowles. A pre-lobby show will include moving sculptures with choreography by Margaret Stephen.
The White Birch Ballet will present a program mix of classical and contemporary works including PAQUITA, the great Russian-Spanish ballet, and a new work by Montreal's Gioconda Barbuto.
"And, we are pleased to announce the premiere of a new ballet, created especially for this event, in collaboration with the Kamala Choir with costume creation by Linda Coe-Kirkham," says Williams.
Dance Saskatchewan will travel with White Birch Ballet to each location to promote its Career Handbook. This new publication will be available at the afternoon career workshop geared for youth who are considering entering the arts industry.
"Career possibilities in the industry extend past the stage experience", says Dance Saskatchewan Executive Director Linda Coe-Kirkham.
"The Canadian arts industry supports careers in arts administration, financial management, stage management, lighting and costume design, musical accompaniment and more," says Coe-Kirkham.
"Through all of the Saturday workshops for youth, we hope to inspire continued dance activity throughout the prairies and to promote the arts industry as a valuable contributor to the economy," says Williams.
As Saskatchewan's only professional ballet company, the White Birch Ballet was formed in 2008 to provide performing and other growth opportunities to professional and emerging ballet dancers.
"The White Birch Ballet provides ballet dancers the opportunity to continue to grow as artists without leaving the prairies," says Williams.
"The dancers, in turn, are able to share this wealth of professional experience with aspiring dancers throughout the region."
This is the company's second tour to the Battlefords.
