August Company Spotlight
Giselle Brings Two Prima Ballerinas Back To Winnipeg
Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancers will get the opportunity of a lifetime when beloved former principal dancer, Evelyn Hart, returns to Winnipeg this fall to assist with RWB’s 2015-16 season opener, Giselle. Hart performed in the RWB’s first full length production of Giselle in 1982 and her exceptional skill and grace on stage made it one of the former prima ballerina’s defining role. Since that performance, Giselle has been added to one of Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s crown jewels of repertoires. Hart’s return to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet serves as a rare opportunity for the current RWB Company to be able to work with such an iconic dancer.
Evelyn Hart serves as a role model to many ballerinas and her legacy is a testament to her skill and dedication to the world of ballet. In addition to coaching and mentoring the RWB dancers, Hart will also make an on stage appearance in the role of Berthe, Giselle’s mother – an opportunity that many won’t want to miss.
Another RWB principal dancer has made her way back to Winnipeg for this fall’s production of Giselle. Jo-Ann Sundermeier, a returning principal dancer who moved to San Francisco in 2013 is back with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Sundermeier shares her excitement in performing the title role of Giselle. However it is not her first time performing the ballet’s main character. In 2012, Sundermeier performed Giselle with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for the first time.
“The first time I played Giselle I was pretty nervous,” shares Sundermeier. “It’ll be nice exploring Giselle with a new partner. Last time I danced with Harrison James as Albrecht. Now I get to dance with Liang Xing and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Giselle runs from September 30 – October 4 at the Centennial Concert Hall. For tickets and information, click here.
Principal dancer returns to perform the role of Giselle
Tristan Dobrowney shares his road to China
On August 15, Second Soloist Tristan Dobrowney will be crossing the ocean to perform as a guest artist with the Wuxi Song & Dance Theatre for the premiere of Peter Quanz’s The Red Crowned Crane. Dobrowney has created a blog which allows ballet fans to follow his journey as he prepares for a new season and a rigorous touring schedule.
“After experiencing how difficult Q Dance had been for me I was extremely anxious about coming back for our full season. I thought that maybe it would be a struggle to take a couple of weeks off and then come back to dancing fully again,” shares Dobrowney. “I was absolutely wrong about that - it felt amazing and I had no problems getting right into things. Q Dance was the ice breaker that my body needed.”
“Now we are just preparing for the rest of the season and I will be leaving for China in less than two weeks to work on a separate project with Peter Quanz,” Dobrowney adds. “I will be gone for five weeks and will try to update more as things progress.”
Visit RWB News and watch for more blog posts as Tristan Dobrowney journeys to China.
Support the RWB’s European Tour of Moulin Rouge® - The Ballet!
From October 8 – November 8, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will be taking Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet on its European Tour, visiting Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. You can help make the RWB’s tour even more successful by generously donating to the tour. Donations assist with everything from the stage set to the elaborate costumes on stage.
Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet has been seen by over 100,000 people across North America and has elicited cheers and ovations wherever it tours. Along with a rousing French soundtrack, the ballet features high-kicking choreography and a passionate story of love, ambition and heartbreak.
Donate to Moulin Rouge® - The Ballet today!
Support Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation’s National Tour!
After a spectacular premiere in Winnipeg, Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation will be venturing on a highly anticipated National Tour from January 29 – April 9, 2016.
Commissioned by Artistic Director André Lewis, Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation explores the world of Annie, a young, urban First Nations woman adrift in a contemporary life of youthful excess. But when she meets Gordon, a longhaired trickster disguised as a homeless man, she’s propelled into a world she’s always sensed but never seen. Not only do they travel the streets of this place but also the roads of their ancestors, learning to accept the other’s burdens as the two walk through the past and toward the future. Together, both Annie and Gordon learn that without truth, there is no reconciliation.
In memory of the late Elder Mary Richard (Ah Kha Ko cheesh) who inspired the RWB.
Click here to see the tour dates and locations.
Bring your friends and family to Giselle and Save on Tickets!
Make the most of your experience when seeing the first performance of the RWB’s 76th season by saving on ticket sales with the Group Benefits program. The RWB offers exclusive discounts for groups of 10 or more. Make a lasting impression with your students, clients, and team or create unforgettable memories with your family and friends. Our group sales team will help customize your experience to meet your group’s unique needs.
The Group Benefits program also offers priority booking, backstage tours, event planning assistance, personalized customer service, and flexible payment structures. We’ll be there every step of the way to make your event a success. Don’t want to fuss with collecting money and organizing people? No problem – we’ll do all the hard work. Ask about our different options for booking and payment, including online purchasing.
Please click here to view our current special offers, including early bird group rates for Nutcracker.
It’s not too late to get a subscription!
Have you joined the RWB family yet? It’s not too late to subscribe and receive great prices for our upcoming season. With three season packages to choose from, you can save up to 30% on seats, as well as 40% off Nutcracker tickets if you add it to your package.
Don’t miss out on a great season with. Click here to learn more about our subscription offers.
Last chance to register for the RWB School Recreational Division!
Your last chance to register for the RWB School Recreational Division is from August 27 – 29, 2015, from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. Simply come down to the RWB School to see what we have in store!
Since its founding in 1939, the Recreational Division of the RWB School has made a meaningful contribution in communities across Manitoba by providing quality dance instruction to dancers of all ages, levels and interests. The School offers a range of classes in a variety of disciplines such as: creative movement, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, musical theatre, conditioning and hip hop, as well as specialized programs for boys and adults, combining the best in training, facilities and value in a positive and encouraging environment.
Additional registration information can be found here or by calling the RWB School Office at 204-956-2792.
The RWB Announces it’s 2015/16 Audition dates!
WINNIPEG
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
CALGARY
Thursday, October 15, 2015
EDMONTON
Friday, October 16, 2015
VANCOUVER
Sunday, October 18, 2015
NANAIMO
Monday, October 19, 2015
KELOWNA
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
WINNIPEG
Sunday, November 1, 2015
TORONTO
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
SAINT JOHN
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
ST. JOHN’S
Thursday, November 5, 2015
HALIFAX
Friday, November 6, 2015
OTTAWA
Sunday, November 8, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS
Sunday, January 10, 2016
MONTRÉAL
Sunday, January 17, 2016
LONDON
Monday, January 18, 2016
WINNIPEG
Sunday, January 24, 2016