The show must go on. Despite facing an uncertain future, Ballet Kelowna has found a way to finish its 10th anniversary tour, which includes a Mission stop.
Earlier this month, the Kelowna-based company announced its artistic director is retiring, and the Coquitlam and Mission shows were to be cancelled.
Only through an outpouring of support from individuals and businesses has Ballet Kelowna agreed to finish the season and suspend operations at the end of April, said the company.
Ballet Kelowna is scheduled to perform Passages on the Clarke Theatre stage April 16. This show takes the audience on a journey through Spain, Russia, England and then home to Canada, captivating watchers with a mosaic of classical and contemporary dance.
Mission show presenter Pam Alexis of AEM Alexis Event Management, was surprised to hear about the group’s financial difficulties about three weeks ago.
Mission is the last stop before the company folds and Alexis is hoping ticket sales will pick up.
“Ballet Kelowna is a very young and athletic group, different than a run-of-the-mill ballet company,” she said. “I’m hoping people will pay attention and go to the theatre. We need to support arts and culture.”
Alexis has personally sent out hundreds of invitations to the show, but admits she will cancel the event if there isn’t enough support here to give the fading ballet company a strong audience.
“I don’t want to pull the plug. I hate to think Mission can’t support this.”
Tickets are available at the Clarke Theatre, the Mission Leisure Centre, Jazz-Ma-Tazz in Abbotsford and Maple Ridge, and at the Fraser Valley Academy of Dance Studios on First Avenue in Mission. Partial proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Culture Kids, a new fund established and administered by the cultural resources commission that helps to offset costs of cultural activities for children.
For more information contact Pam Alexis at 604-302-2005.