Students at Barker School in Dauphin got a special performance by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet(RWB) School‘s Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program earlier this week.
The program is in the midst of its On the Edge Tour, performing 12 times, in 12 days, in 12 different communities. Program Director Vanessa Leonard says this tour is a great way for them to share what they do with the entire province.
"We bring a mixed repertoire performance, which means that there's quite a few different styles of dance. So we have the classical ballet dance, there is some contemporary dance in it as well, along with some flamenco and tango dancing, and neoclassical dancing. So it is a range of pieces that are put together to form the show."
This is the first full in-person On the Edge Tour the school is doing, as the pandemic made it so they had to go virtual the last few years.
Leonard says there are opportunities for dance lovers across the province at RWB, and that's something they want to show students while on tour.
"It's important for students from all over, to know that we have this little gem in Winnipeg, at that there is a school, there's an inspiring young dancer, there is a school that has student housing where you can come and train if ballet is a dream of yours. So hopefully we spark those little dreams within some kids at the schools, and also within some performances that we do for communities."
Dauphin was the third stop on the tour, with shows in Winkler and Portage on Monday and Tuesday. The tour left Dauphin immediately after Wednesday morning's show, heading to Grand Rapids for a performance yesterday, and then to Thompson for another show today.
After stops in Gillam, Wabowden, Moose Lake, and the Pas, the tour will be finishing off in Swan Valley, Pine Creek, and Brandon next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
