Ballet Kelowna presents Canadian Premiere of ‘The Ashley Bouder Project’ with NYC Ballet Luminaries

**Ballet Kelowna presents the Canadian Premiere of ‘The Ashley Bouder Project’**

Featuring Stars of New York City Ballet

In an incredible coup for Ballet Kelowna, New York City’s finest dancers will travel west to light up Kelowna’s Community Theatre (1375 Water Street) with the anticipated Canadian premiere of The Ashley Bouder Project, March 3 at 7:30pm. New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder, and an elite ensemble of the company’s greatest artists, will present a performance experience of the highest caliber in the only Canadian engagement.

“Presenting these New York City Ballet dancers, some of ballet’s best and brightest stars, in Canada, is such an amazing opportunity for us,” said Ballet Kelowna Artistic Director and CEO, Simone Orlando. “Bouder’s exquisite artistry and meticulously-honed technique will ensure that our Kelowna audience will be left in stunned silence! We are also delighted that the second act – showcasing the much-anticipated Canadian premiere of Rouge et Noir – has been choreographed by Kelowna native Joshua Beamish, in a welcome return to the region.”

Bouder will be joined onstage by fellow Principal Dancer Amar Ramasar and NYCB company artists Sebastian Villarini, Peter Walker and Indiana Woodward.

Dancing since the age of six, Bouder first performed with NYCB in June 2000, was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and has been a celebrated Principal Dancer with the world-renowned company since January 2005.

In a true testament to ballet’s timeless athleticism and grace, signature excerpts from Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Agon and the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux will be featured in the first act, appropriately named An Exposé on Ballet Style, with choreography by classical ballet legends Marius Petipa and George Balanchine.

The second act, featuring the ground-breaking Rouge et Noir, promises an unforgettable performance experience. Choreographer Joshua Beamish (Kelowna’s-own and current artistic director of MOVE: the company) was inspired to create the work after hearing Shostakovich’s Trio in E Minor for the first time. Costumes by Council of Fashion Designer of America member B Michael are heavily influenced by a1939 collaboration between the composer and Henri Matisse for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo.

The Ashley Bouder Project is the second performance in Ballet Kelowna’s extraordinary 2014/15 season, with single tickets now on sale.

Ballet Kelowna’s Mini-Pack provides the best value with up to 15 percent savings on tickets to both The Ashley Bouder Project, March 3, 2015, and Forward: A Mixed Repertory Programme, which will close the season on April 24, 2015.

Tickets and information at balletkelowna.ca

ABOUT Ballet Kelowna (balletkelowna.ca):
The founding of Ballet Kelowna in 2002 continues the long-lasting ballet legacy of Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, co-founders of The Canadian School of Ballet (1938) and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (1939). The idea for starting a ballet company in Kelowna was initiated by then Canadian School of Ballet’s directors (1985-2011) Melville Brown and Lori Larson, along with Founding Artistic Director David LaHay. Ballet Kelowna, through its touring, school performances and outreach activities has visited more than 60 communities in Western Canada, giving audiences and students a wonderful opportunity to experience the energy and artistry of a professional ballet company. Under the artistic leadership of Simone Orlando, Ballet Kelowna brings excellent, inspiring and memorable dance to Kelowna and the Canadian west and fulfills its mandate to commission new work from emerging and established Canadian choreographers, while presenting masterworks from the world’s ballet canon.

LISTING INFORMATION	Ballet Kelowna presents *The Ashley Bouder Project*
Date:	March 3 at 7:30pm
Ticket prices:	Single tickets $73 (Adult), $63 (Senior/Student) and $33 (Child) Mini-Pack tickets (Two shows) $98 (Adult), $82 (Senior/Student) and $48 (Child)
Address:	Kelowna Community Theatre 1375 Water Street, Kelowna
Box Office:	Online at balletkelowna.ca By Phone at 250-862-2867 In person at Kelowna Actors Studio Box Office, 1397 Ellis Street
Website:	www.balletkelowna.ca