FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2024

Ballet Kelowna Returns to Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre with 'The Cowboy Act Suite & Other Works

VERNON, BC — Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society is proud to announce the return of Ballet Kelowna to Vernon with The Cowboy Act Suite & Other Works, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 7:30pm. This upcoming performance featuring work by Vernon’s own Cameron Fraser-Monroe is part of the SPOTLIGHT Dance Series 2024-2025.

Touring BC this fall with a promising lineup from Ballet Kelowna’s contemporary ballet repertoire, The Cowboy Act Suite & Other Works performance includes Simone Orlando’s introspective Delicate Fire, Seiji Suzuki’s evocative Stolen Tide, and Cameron Fraser-Monroe’s satirical The Cowboy Act Suite. This high-energy program is here to please a wide range of audiences.

“Ballet Kelowna creates amazing evening of dance. From the driven movement and music of Stolen Tide, the elegant en pointe choreography of Delicate Fire, to the funny, poignant, and stunning work of the Cameron Fraser-Monroe’s The Cowboy Act Suite. We are thrilled to kick off our season’s Birthday Bash with Ballet Kelowna!”, says VDPAC Artistic Director Erin Kennedy.

Audiences will be transported to the Wild West in Cameron Fraser-Monroe’s The Cowboy Act Suite, a work that explores the dichotomy between “Cowboys and Indians” set to music by Mohawk singer/songwriter Tom Wilson. While these caricatures have been portrayed on pages, stages, and in films, they are often penned from a colonial perspective. Fraser-Monroe’s intuitive take on the swashbuckling strut of the Cowboy informs this intellectual unpacking of a one-sided lens and flips the script to ask, what happens when an Indian directs the Cowboys through their history?

“I’m so excited to share The Cowboy Act Suite in the theatre where my journey began, the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre!” says Cameron Fraser-Monroe, “This wild quest through the Wild West let me cut loose with my sense of humour and style, and I hope to see you there.” A contemporary reimagining of mythology, Simone Orlando’s Delicate Fire explores the emotional legend of Aphrodite and Adonis. Initially developed through a fellowship from the New York Choreographic Institute, this dynamic work moves from fast and rhythmic to slow and ethereal. This work is dedicated to Canadian composer Jocelyn Morlock and is set to two of her compositions.

Seiji Suzuki’s Stolen Tide is an appeal to cherish every moment spent with family, friends, and partners. Highlighting the importance of social connection, the fast-paced opening movement is a live study of the impact of a traumatic event, while conflict and discord give way to compassion and empathy in the touching and powerful second movement.

“Ballet Kelowna has toured all across the country, but the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre remains one of our all-time favourite places to perform,” says Simone Orlando, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Kelowna. “We are pleased to once again feature the incredible work of Cameron Fraser-Monroe, with yet another Ballet Kelowna-commissioned piece of his on our mixed program.”

Ballet Kelowna brings a dynamic repertoire of contemporary ballet, touring across Canada and internationally. Known for works like Cameron Fraser-Monroe’s Taqəš and Alysa Pires’ Macbeth, Ballet Kelowna has garnered awards such as the BC Live Performance Network’s Artistic Company of the Year and the Lieutenant Governor’s Arts and Music Award. Dance enthusiasts will recall Ballet Kelowna’s most recent SPOTLIGHT Season performances of Taqəš and Other Works in Vernon.

There will be a ballet masterclass offered by Ballet Kelowna. Please visit ticketseller.ca to register.

For our 23rd Birthday Bash celebrations, doors open at 6:15 PM with drinks and a limited supply of delicious cake to kick off the evening. We encourage all of our Sponsors, Members, and Community Partners to join us for this exclusive pre-event Birthday Bash. It’s the perfect opportunity to mingle, enjoy some treats, and celebrate together before the main event. Don't miss out!

The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre presents The Cowboy Act Suite & Other Works, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 7:30pm. Tickets are $40 for Adults, $37 for Seniors, $35 for Students and $30 for first two rows (all ages). The performance is 1 hour and 20 minutes without intermission. For tickets, contact the Ticket Seller at 250-549-SHOW (7469) or visit ticketseller.ca to purchase online.

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Ticket link: https://www.ticketseller.ca/tickets/event/the-cowboy-act-other-works

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About Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society is a non-profit, charitable organization devoted to fostering artists, their work, and live performance in all genres and for all ages. The Society operates the Performing Arts Centre (VDPAC) on behalf of the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and with the support of over 30 staff and 200 volunteers. Each year, we present our SPOTLIGHT Season of over 30 diverse performances, complemented by over 125 professional guest concerts, festivals, and special events. We select professional touring productions to entertain, enlighten, move and amuse our patrons. Altogether, they offer audiences of all ages a world of unforgettable live theatre experiences. Please visit: https://vdpac.ca/ & https://ticketseller.ca/

Facebook: @vdpac | Instagram: @vernonperformingarts

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