Double bill offering 2 imaginative stories
Two works have been twirled together for Ballet Kelowna’s forthcoming show – both will be world premieres as part of the double bill called Turning Point.
That includes Mustard, a play written in 2016 that choreographer Robert Stephen turned into ballet.
“The play itself is largely built around wordplay. With dance we are completing this work without any words or text, only through movement and music and setting,” Stephen said.
It tells the story of an imaginary friend wearing out his welcome in the real world.
“I was very curious to take this idea of the imaginary friend world and it coexisting with human world. These characters move in a superhuman way, really heightening the dramatic effect of the story and the contrast between the different worlds,” he said.
“How does the make believe world coexist with the human world? And where do the imaginary friends go when we don’t need them anymore? What if one of them were to stay, and what would the repercussions be?”
Mustard will be Stephen’s first official narrative ballet as a choreographer. He feels like younger choreographers have a tendency to strictly focus on contemporary dance, but he’s not a fan of that trend.
“I’m interested in bringing classical ballet into the 21st Century, exploring how that style of movement can be used to tell a very contemporary story such as Mustard.”
The music is an original commissioned score by Canadian composer Owen Belton.
“I’m just pinching myself that I’m getting to collaborate with Owen on this project,” Stephen said.
“We’re especially delighted to welcome Robert Stephen back for his third, longer-form commission, which promises to draw audiences in through its endearing and uplifting story, explored through Robert’s visionary choreography,” Simone Orlando, Ballet Kelowna’s CEO and artistic director said in a press release. “I am elated to pair his new work with a mystical tale of Gods and Goddesses from my own choreographic repertoire, marking the first time I’ll bring a new work to the Kelowna stage since 2019.”
The other work – Delicate Fire – will be in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Orlando. The story is “An emotional exploration of the nature and deeds of Gods and Goddesses within the mythical realm,” according to the release.
“The 25-minute work is heavily inspired by (late Canadian composer Jocelyn) Morlock’s evocative music for flute and piano, based on the lyrical poetry of Sappho, an ancient Greek poet whose work has only survived in fragmented portions.”
Turning Point is happening Feb. 16 and 17 at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $57 for adults, $50 for seniors and $32 for students, plus fees, thru balletkelowna.ca
The amount of irrigated farmland that draws from Kelowna’s municipal water system will be capped at 1,925 ha.
The suggested limit, to be considered by city councillors at Monday’s meeting, will provide “reasonable protection” against future water shortages while also meeting the city’s environment obligations, municipal staff say.
A new water supply policy is intended to resolve some ambiguities in current procedures governing areas such as fire protection, drought management, and long-term planning.
A key provision states clearly that the city’s drinking water system cannot be used for agricultural irrigation. When some aging, independently-run irrigation systems fail or run dry, landowners often ask permission to connect to the city’s potable water system.
“The potable water utility infrastructure is simply not sized for, nor has the storage necessary for seasonal agricultural irrigation,” reads part of a staff report to council.
Given the cost of treating water to a drinkable standard, it’s financially impractical to also use it for irrigation, municipal officials say. Farmers should invest in the modernization and renewal of their current irrigation systems, they say.
The city operates a non-potable water system for irrigation purposes.
“The area of agricultural land supplied by the non-potable water system will not exceed 1,925 ha,” reads part of the updated water supply policy.