Dance Victoria is coming off a very strong fall season and looking forward to a busy and full spring starting with the launch of the sixth annual Dance Days on January 23.
This year Dance Victoria will award a total of $27,000 with its annual Chrystal Dance Prize that supports projects initiated by professional dance artists from western Canada working with an international partner and/or young dance artists continuing their training at an international institution. Applications for the 2015 prize are now online at DanceVictoria.com. The competition closes on March 16.
In total 7,750 people attended Dance Victoria’s first two presentations of its 2014/15 season, BalletBoyz® and Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker averaging a capacity of 93 per cent per performance at the 1,400 seat Royal Theatre. RWB’s Nutcracker is the highest grossing show in Dance Victoria’s 18-year history.
In late November 2014, 30 or so members of Dance Victoria Society came out to its Annual General Meeting to review the results from the 2013/14 fiscal year that ended June 30, 2014. The audited financial statements for the year revealed a small deficit (about $1,500) on a total budget of $1.4 million. Surprisingly, the largest selling presentation last season, aside from The Nutcracker, was Alberta Ballet’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy that outsold (in total number of tickets) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
At the AGM, Board President Paul McNair thanked Vice President Bob Milne for not just his recent service to Dance Victoria, but for his continued support and years of past service. Bob has assumed full responsibility as President of Pacific Opera.
Two new board members, Mariann Burka and René Peloquin, were elected. Burka has had an extensive career in the public service including senior positions as Executive Director and Assistant Deputy Minister. Peloquin is a Senior Consultant at Queenswood Consulting and is a member of the Bar of British Columbia. They will join re-elected Directors Paul McNair, Regan McGrath, Mary Desprez, Allana Lindgren, Kari McLay, Lynda Raino and John B Shields.
Dance Victoria’s community-wide Dance Days event kicks off Jan. 23 with a swing dance party led by Red Hot Swing at Dance Victoria Studios starting at 8:30 pm. The evening includes a short lesson followed by dancing until midnight to hot jazz music provided by a DJ. Like all Dance Days classes and events, this kick-off is offered free of charge and is open to anyone, no experience (or partner) necessary.
Look for the complete schedule here or any Serious Coffee location on southern Vancouver Island.