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WATER'S EDGE: Trach returns home with Ballet Kelowna

He describes the show as "a huffer and a puffer." Coquitlam's Brett Trach is one of six dancers with Ballet Kelowna performing Actions Consequences in his hometown on Saturday at the Evergreen Cultural Centre as part of the Water's Edge Festival.

He describes the show as "a huffer and a puffer."

Coquitlam's Brett Trach is one of six dancers with Ballet Kelowna performing Actions Consequences in his hometown on Saturday at the Evergreen Cultural Centre as part of the Water's Edge Festival.

"It's a tough show," he said during an interview last week after a rehearsal to prepare for the upcoming 13-city tour. "I'm going to go to the gym after this to do some cardio."

Actions Consequences has five pieces, including a number that was tailored especially for Ballet Kelowna.

The performance starts with Dvorak Dances, a classical dance created by artistic director David LaHay that's set toCzech composer Antonin Dvorak's popular Slavonic Dances.

Canadian choreographer Gioconda Barbuta's newly commissioned ballet, titled Capture, involving Montreal composer Michael Oesterle's music, is the second piece that mirrors the "organic movement of each dancer," said Raelynn Heppell, a former Langley resident. "She spent two weeks with us to model our natural styles. It's really beautiful."

Next on the program is Flower Festival that Trach describes as an "old-time classic pas de deux"(French for "steps of two") followed byStage Within, a contemporary dance created by Ballet BC's Simone Orlando.

And, for the finale is LaHay's In Stride, also a modern number that includes Glen Branca's pulsating beat.

"It's very, very difficult," Heppell said of the show, echoing Trach's comments.

Started nine years ago, Ballet Kelowna strives to take dance to communities that have not seen the art form live - or, at least, not in many years.

"It's hard to bring a company of 30 dancers to a small town but, with the six of us, we can dance on secondary school stages. It's not always the primest locations but it's very rewarding because we're so well received," Trach said.

Being such a small group allows the dancers to have one-on-one training, Heppell said. "I came to Ballet Kelowna quite weak and without a lot of experience in a professional place," she said, "and with David's training and constant push and 45 shows a year, I've just skyrocketed in my technique and performance ability."

Heppell, 22, said she's had a few auditions with bigger companies recently but Trach, 23, hopes to stay in Kelowna for a year or two more to master the steps.

The former Tri-City Dance Centre and Centennial secondary student is known for his musical theatre background, having performed in Theatre Under the Stars (Footloose), with Footlight Theatre (Birdie) and the Royal City Musical Theatre (A Chorus Line).

For him, "ballet is probably the hardest dance. You have to do it when you're young. It's the foundation for everything. "You can do tap, hip hop or jazz dance later."

jwarren@tricitynews.com

CONCERTS, DANCE, ART & WORKSHOPS

Arts and culture will pour down on Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre this weekend for the third annual Water's Edge Festival.

Participants can wade through music, dance and art shows or take part in the many workshops offered at the Pinetree Way facility. Here's the line-up:

FRIDAY, FEB. 25

• 9 a.m.: Coastal Sound Music Academy's children's choir workshop and day of singing for students in grades 3 to 8, under the direction of Carrie Tennant (cost $40)

• 7 p.m.: Coastal Sound Music Academy's children's choir (cost $10)

• 8 p.m.: Drum circle workshop with Milton Randall on West African djembe hand drums (free)

SATURDAY, FEB. 26

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Studio arts sampler for ages 10 and up (cost $5)

• 10 a.m.: Live model collage workshop with Gay Mitchell (cost $5)

• 12 p.m.: All-Canadian Guitar Jam with Andrew Clark and Malcolm Grier (free)

• 1 p.m.: Weaving magic workshop (free) • 1:30 p.m.: Ballet Kelowna, open rehearsal (free)

• 2 p.m to 6 p.m.: S.O.N.G. Singer/Songwriter Cafe with David Anthony (free)

• 3 p.m.: Dance Exploration workshop with Nichola Basara and Christina Martino for ages 10 and up (free)

• 4 p.m.: Spring blossoms workshop (cost $5)

• 8 p.m.: Ballet Kelowna's Actions Consequences (tickets start at $10)

SUNDAY, FEB. 27

• 9:30 a.m.: David LaHay of Ballet Kelowna leads a master class (cost $25)

• 10:30 a.m.: Jazz singer Dee Daniels leads a gospel workshop (free)

• 12 to 4 p.m.: S.O.N.G. Singer/Songwriter Cafe with David Anthony (free)

• 2 p.m.: Dee Daniels, An Afternoon of Jazz, Blues and Gospel (cost $25/20)

• 4 p.m.: Those Who Can, Teach!, opening reception for art exhibit by School District 43 art teachers and alumni (free)

• 4:30 p.m.: Water's Edge festival reception in the lobby (free)

• 7 p.m.: PechaKucha Volume II, a networking and performance event to inspire creativity (cost $12)

To buy tickets, call 604-927-6555. To register for a workshop, call 604-927-6552. jwarren@tricitynews.com