BY MEGAN WARREN
For ArtSpring
Nearly three years after they opened ArtSpring’s landmark 25th anniversary season, Ballet Kelowna returns to Salt Spring next week to prove why they remain one of the most riveting forces in Canadian dance.
Named the 2024 Artistic Company of the Year by the BC Live Performance Network, the collective brings a residency that invites our community to step into the studio before witnessing the mainstage magic of Vividus: Full of Life. Much like the The Ostara Project jazz collective’s residency last week, Ballet Kelowna thrives on the edge of creative risk, blending the rigid discipline of classical training with the daring soul of contemporary movement.
The journey begins in the studio on Sunday, March 22, where the company throws open the doors for local dancers to learn from the best in the business. Held at Antler Ridge Dance Studio, these workshops offer a rare, intimate gift to Salt Springers looking to find new sensations of freedom and skill in their own bodies. The afternoon kicks off at 3 p.m. with an all-levels Barre and Centre class. Those seeking a deeper challenge can take the 4:15 p.m. advanced Learning Repertoire session. Advanced dancers are advised to take both classes to ensure they are fully warmed up for the rigours of repertoire.
On March 23 at 7:30 p.m., the curtain goes up for Vividus: Full of Life, a triple-bill program that feels less like a series of dances and more like a cinematic exploration of the human heart. The evening launches with Alysa Pires’ Vestiges, a sweeping work set to the evocative melodies of Hilary Hahn and Hauschka that delves into a search for connection and meaning in a chaotic world. Next, the stage shifts into the dreamlike space of Kirsten Wicklund’s The Forever Part. This ethereal meditation explores the tension between yearning desire and the anxiety that the permanence of “forever” can bring, leaving a haunting, beautiful atmosphere that lingers in the theatre long after the final curtain.
For the finale, the company sheds its introspective skin for a burst of unbridled, whimsical joy. Choreographed by National Ballet of Canada principal dancer Guillaume Côté, Le Carnaval des Animaux is a jovial, upbeat spectacle that reminds us of the playfulness inherent in high art. It is a performance defined by exuberant energy and frolicking fun — a perfect closing note for a residency dedicated to the relentless pulse of being alive.
See artspring.ca for ticket info.