Leads to World Premiere of T'əl: The Wild Man
of the Woods
WINNIPEG, MB, April 23, 2024 /CNW/ - Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet is celebrating
the incredible legacy of André Lewis C.M., O.M., M.S.M. and his
contribution to the art of dance by embarking on a $2 million campaign to create the André Lewis
Choreography Endowment. This endowment, when fully realized, will
support annual choreography services for the RWB Company and
School, ushering in a new era of artistic excellence and ensuring
that the art we perform continues to reflect the RWB's world class
reputation.
To achieve this, the RWB has been presented with a very generous
offer from an anonymous donor who will match all donations up to
$1 million. By doing this, the
campaign aims to raise $1 million in
the next 5 years in support of the André Lewis Choreography
Endowment Fund.
"It's an incredible investment in the future of a historic
organization in Canada and
supports our strategic direction to continue to be leaders creating
new and innovative choreography in this new era." – Executive
Director, Elena Tupyseva
This same anonymous donor has made a special contribution to the
new fund, to begin the process of creating new works. The
first in the series will be T'əl: The Wild Man of the Woods,
choreographed by RWB School alumnus Cameron
Fraser-Monroe. Scheduled to grace the stage of the
Centennial Concert Hall from April 25 to
28 alongside Carmina
Burana, this marks a significant milestone. The ballet
unfolds through an Indigenous narrative, led by a completely
Indigenous creative team and narrated by Elder Elsie Paul in both
Ayajuthem and English.This captivating tale unfolds the legend of
T'əl, a figure who, under the cover of night, abducts children from
the village until a courageous young woman embarks on a mission to
rescue her sister. Enhancing the experience, the evocative score
for this new work is composed by JUNO Award-nominated, Two Spirited
cellist and composer, Cris Derksen.
The score will be brought to life by the Winnipeg Symphony
Orchestra, with Derksen herself accompanying the orchestra live on
the cello. With New York-based
Navajo designer and Yale-alumnus
Asa Benally leading costume design,
T'əl soars with artistic brilliance.
"It's so fulfilling to have artists from my community, from
other communities working together and meeting at the Centennial
Concert Hall to put on this production. It's incredible to watch
these dancers embody a vision that comes from First Nations oral
history and the devotion of all these resources towards presenting
this story to such a large audience. It's a historic moment
not only for the RWB, but for ballet as a whole."
- Cameron Fraser-Monroe, RWB
Choreographer in Residence
André Lewis Choreography Endowment Fund, which has made T'əl:
The Wild Man of the Woods possible, has four key
priorities:
- providing exciting opportunities for the next generation of
artists
- supporting new full-length and short, exploratory
works
- opening the door to exciting new touring
opportunities
- audience inspiration and engagement
"I've been in service of the arts, of the RWB, as Artistic
Director for nearly 30 years, and I'm incredibly honoured to know
that this service will continue for generations to come with this
exceptional investment in the arts." – André Lewis, C.M., O.M.,
M.S.M.
As the costs associated with creating new ballets continues to
rise, the gaps between what companies like the RWB can do, want to
do, and must do continues to grow. To bridge this gap, the André
Lewis Choreography Fund will work in tandem with the RWB Creations
Endowment Fund to bolster and sustain the ability to invest in new,
full-length ballets confidently and strategically.
This week, while experiencing the grandeur of Carmina Burana and witnessing the birth of a
groundbreaking new Indigenous ballet, audiences are guaranteed an
unforgettable evening of world-class entertainment.
Tickets are available at the RWB Box Office and at rwb.org.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet presents Carmina Burana and T'əl: The Wild Man of
the Woods
Media Invite: Wednesday, April
24 at 7:30PM
Dress Rehearsal Photography & Videography Opportunity
Location: Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg
Event Details:
Event
Name: Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Carmina Burana with
T'əl: The Wild Man of the Woods
|
|
Show
|
Dates
|
and
|
Times:
|
Thursday
|
April
|
25
|
7:30pm
|
Friday
|
April
|
26
|
7:30pm
|
Saturday
|
April
|
27
|
7:30pm
|
Sunday
|
April
|
28
|
2:00pm
|
|
|
|
|
Location: Centennial Concert Hall, 555
Main Street, Winnipeg
Email Address & Phone Number: customerservice@rwb.org,
204-957-2792
Ticket link: Carmina Burana and T'əl: The Wild Man of the
Woods Tickets
|
About Canada's Royal
Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) enriches the human experience by
teaching, creating and performing outstanding dance. Founded
in 1939 by Gweneth Lloyd and
Betty Farrally, the RWB holds the
double distinction of being Canada's premier ballet company and the
longest continuously operating ballet company in North
America. The RWB received its 'Royal' designation from
Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the
first Royal Charter granted during
her reign.
As a result of the outstanding leadership of Artistic Director
André Lewis, C.M., O.M., M.S.M., versatility, technical excellence,
and a captivating style have become the trademarks of the RWB,
qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim.
The RWB's superlative standards keep the Company in demand across
North America and beyond. In
addition to the Company, the RWB is home to the RWB School,
consisting of both the Professional Division, our internationally
renowned dance education and training centre for aspiring
professional dancers and dance teachers, and the Recreational
Division, one of Winnipeg's
largest dance schools for all ages, levels, and
interests.
Carmina Burana Media Kit
T'əl: The Wild Man of the Woods imagery
SOURCE Canada's Royal Winnipeg
Ballet