“Left, right, left, right, his stomach pocket, his mouth, his hips.”

Jonathon Young’s voice provided the beats for the dancers to follow.

“Left, right, left, right, left. Forehead, mouth, back of the neck, pocket, other pocket.”

The talented dancers of Arts Umbrella’s Senior Company attacked the brilliant Crystal Pite’s choreography with passion, technique, and professionalism. When this Scene Study was through, the audience leapt to its feet with cheers, whistles, and over the head clapping.

“That was incredible.” “That was special.” “That was art.”

This was the premiere of Scene Study – created specially for these Arts Umbrella dancers. You might see elements of this piece in Pite’s upcoming work with the Paris Opera Ballet.

Scene Study was the final number in the Arts Umbrella Dance Company’s Season Finale: Be Moved. (We were.)  The program began with Midnight’s Children, another beautiful piece – this one choreographed by Wen Wei Wang and opening with eight male dancers dressed in black.

Also on last night’s program? Choreography from Wubkje Kuindersma, Stephan Shropshire, Donald Sales, James Kudelka, Johan Inger, Lesley Telford, Livona Ellis.

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Over the course of the three Be Moved performances that remain, audiences will be able to see a special series of duets choreographed for these Arts Umbrella dancers by Ballet BC’s Artistic Director, Emily Molnar.

Evident throughout this Thursday night show was the seriousness with which the young Arts Umbrella dancers take their training. Post-secondary students train 35 to 45 hours, 6 days a week. Those in the Professional Training program are in special half-day academic programs or home-schooling so they can focus on dance 4 to 6 days a week.

Congratulations to the Be Moved performers, visionary Artistic Director Artemis Gordon and her dance faculty, CEO Paul Larocque, and all those in and outside Arts Umbrella who support these up and coming dancers.

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•AUDC Be Moved

Written by Elizabeth Newton
www.creatorsvancouver.com