This week, Vancouver Opera presents the last three performances of Die Fledermaus (The Bat), the Austrian operetta composed by Johann Strauss Jr., adapted by UBC’s Nancy Hermiston to include theatrical dialogue in English with timely or local references. Eisenstein (Roger Honeywell) is dismayed to find that a disguised Rosalinde (Joyce El-Khoury) has his watch. Photo […]

After our heavily caffeinated drive from Vancouver to Seattle, and after quickly taking in our room’s stunning 10th floor ocean-front view as the light change across the Pacific Northwest sky, Rebecca and I were quickly whisked downstairs to the hotel spa for some much needed rest and relaxation. A girls getaway isn’t complete and without […]

This weekend, for the first time in the company’s history, Ballet BC presents Miami City Ballet, and their interpretation of some of George Balanchine’s most famous works: Serenade, Symphony in Three Movements, and Ballo della Regina. Review: Ballet BC Presents Miami City Ballet Miami City Ballet dancers in Serenade.Choreography by George Balanchine © The George […]

Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker, presented by Ballet BC, is a beautiful, big-hearted performance that retains aspects from the original’s German and Russian traditions, while being very relevant to a Vancouver audience by being set in Canada, at the turn of the 20th Century, just before WWI. Photo courtesy of Ballet BC. RWB Company Photo […]

“It was intense,” my niece told me this morning when I asked her about the show last night. I took her to see Stickboy at Vancouver Opera, which was composed by Neil Weisensel and written by Shane Koyczan. Given my general knowledge of the libretto — based on Koyczan’s powerful book about a boy who, […]

On Thursday night Ballet BC, in collaboration with Turning Point Ensemble, presented the first of three performances of Grace Symmetry at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The performance features live music by Turning Point Ensemble, a local chamber ensemble whose repertoire specializes in music composed in the past 100 years and who is known for its […]

I’ve seen The Nutcracker a couple of times with my mother, whether performed on stage or on TV (it’s a mother-daughter Christmas tradition) and we both agree that the rendition by Alberta Ballet, now playing at the Queen Elizabeth theatre, choreographed by Edward Stripe with live music by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, is by far […]

This month I partnered with Lenovo to give away a Lenovo Yoga 8 Tablet and they happened to send me on as well so that I could write a review. After installing the WordPress app from the Play Store on the device, I put together a write-up for those looking at tablet gift options this […]

If Ballet BC’s season opener, Tilt, is any indication, there is yet even more life being breathed into the company. Last season completely blew me away — not only did the phoenix rise from the ashes (of near bankruptcy), it soared around the the world, taking the audience with it on a glorious ride. I […]

Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast include some of my favourite getaway destinations for a day trip, weekend visit, an extended stay, or for business. Of course to reach these ports of call a ferry trip is required along with browsing schedules, booking a reservation, checking in on wait times, line-ups, and […]