The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
There is any number of places where an afternoon at the Ballet would be considered the norm. However, for obvious reasons, tiny Snow Lake, Manitoba would not be included among them. Nevertheless, on the afternoon of December 4, the entire school population and over 100 towns folk were treated to an outstanding performance by the world renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB). The production was entitled "Concert Hour Ballet" and was brought to the community under the auspices of the Aurora Borealis Arts Council. The 25 members of the troupe arrived from a performance in Thompson three hours before their Snow Lake show and immediately got to work readying the Gordon Doak Gym for their presentation. Everyone from the 20 students in the dance troupe to the bus driver was involved in setting up the school for the show. As stated in some of the RWB's literature, "No one is too precious to do their part." In addition to curtains, drapes, lighting and sound equipment, the company brought their own floor Ð a Harlequin studio dance floor. It is a vital element of the troupe's gear and is comprised of linoleum strips rolled for transport. Once in the gym, it is laid flat on the floor, duct taped together and when completely installed, provides an ideal surface for dancers to move on. The entire set up was accomplished in under 45 minutes and after a lunch provided by the Arts Council and prepared by Home Economics students, the dancers began warming up before dressing and applying their makeup and hairstyles for the performance. Once the audience was in place and the light were dimmed, the show began with staff member and show choreographer, Bruce Monk making introductions and then providing narration during each component of the performance. See 'Amazing' P.# Con't from P.# After an initial demonstration of how dancers prepare and warm their muscles each day, the troupe performed several pieces from their repertoire. The first of these was "White Swan Pas de Deux"; which was explained as a classic example of a dance for two people and gave the audience a taste of pure balletic moves. The next piece was a more modern composition called "Trekk". It was current enough to encourage some swaying and toes to tapping amoungst those viewing, and this in return warmed the dancers to the crowd. The final two numbers were "Allegro Grazioso" and "La Folia". Both were lighthearted and humorous and had the younger children in the front giggling uncontrollably. The two pieces also exhibited the remarkable range of movement and precise timing required by and inherent in both male and female dancers. Before the presentation concluded, a demonstration was given on the technique involved when a male dancer turns a ballerina while she is up on her toe. After this display, Mr. Monk explained, tongue in cheek, that he'd heard a lot about the local hockey team and asked if one of their members would like to come forward to try executing a turn with the ballerina. Brad Selkirk, a defenseman with the Cranberry/Snow Lake WinterHawks stepped forward and took the challenge. He did great and performed the turn Ð well, just like a hockey player. The show concluded with a long round of applause and deep appreciation for this amazing dance troupe.
