I think I may have seen the most exquisite vision of my life:

Tight little rows of ballerina swans in flat feathered tutus moving into different formations, tilting their hips like feathers ruffling, tapping their toes on the floor like feathers fluttering, sometimes in unison, and always purposefully perfect.

Photo courtesy of Ballet BC.

This weekend, BC Ballet presents the National Ballet of China’s performance of the 19th century classic Swan Lake, set to the well-known score of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky and after last night’s performance, I urge everyone to grab a ticket for a potentially once in a lifetime experience.

The technical precision executed by the National Ballet of China is almost alien-like as the white swans dance, when Prince Siegfried (Sheng Shidong) leaps and pirouettes multiple times in the air and when Odette (Zhang Jian) bends backward so far, her head almost touches the ceiling again.

Though extremely regimented and precise, the National Ballet of China doesn’t perform a cold, technical rendition of the famous love story–they are able to capture the emotional life of the story of a Prince who falls in love with a princess who has been turned into a swan by a sorcerer.

Zhang Jian’s Odette is heartbreaking and she not only communicates emotions through her graceful and open-hearted movements and facial expressions, but she also conveys them through actual emotion he conjures up–her grief, love, and longing projects to the very back of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and resonates in the space throughout the show, and in my case, with me for the rest of the night.

The National Ballet of China’s Swan Lake, presented by BC Ballet, runs until Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets are still on sale for performances tonight and tomorrow. Follow Ballet BC on Facebook and Twitter for updates and show information.

There are hockey fans and then there are super fans, three of which Pepsi has found in Vancouver who all bleed blue, white, and green. Pepsi recently did a photoshoot with three Canucks Super Fans who will be the basis of a billboard campaign in Vancouver. They include Mohan Singh Vinning (PunJohnny Canuck), Amie Nguyen, and The Green Men (Sully and Force).

Photo credit: Rob Kruyt

These fans support the team on the road and at home, dress up, write articles, make videos, and put themselves out there to show their Canucks pride. As a partner of the Canucks since 2012, Pepsi wanted to engage the Vancouver market and put a local spin on their “Live For Now” campaign (which features stars like Beyonce). What better way to embrace the spirit and culture of Vancouver than to showcase passionate hockey fans who embody the “Live For Now” spirit?

To celebrate Pepsi‘s commitment to Canucks Super Fans, I have been offered up a fantastic prize pack to give away that includes:

• A North Face Pepsi Live For Now Jacket
• Pepsi Portable Mini Speakers
• A Pepsi Live For Now t-shirt
• Pepsi & Lays Products
• A pair of Canucks hockey tickets
• A Canucks hockey jersey
• — an approximate value of $700!

The winner will be able to cheer on the Canucks like how PunJohnny Canuck, Amie Nguyen, and The Green Men commit to doing, from the time the first puck drops to when the cup is raised. Here’s how you can enter to win this prize pack:

• Leave a comment here telling of your own “Super Fan” actions or moments (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Friday, March 8, 2013 at 12:00pm. The tickets are for an upcoming regular season Canucks game (March 18, 2013). This contest has been approved by Pepsi and the Vancouver Canucks. Follow Pepsi Canada on Facebook and Twitter – and the Vancouver Canucks on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Update The winner is Dayna Wilson!

The Rio Theatre just announced its Friday Late Night Movies lineup for March and Miss604 is proud to hop on board as a media sponsor for this affordable film series.

March 1, 2013:
Wayne’s World
(Hosted by Paul Anthony)

March 8, 2013
Tetsuo The Iron Man
(Hosted by Jen & Sylvia Soska)

March 15, 2013
Fight Club
(Original 35mm print)

March 22, 2013
Blue Velvet

March 29, 2013
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Rio Theatre is an independent art and movie house located at 1660 West Broadway, at Commercial Drive, and is easily accessible by transit. They now have their full service bar up and running so you must be 19+ to attend this series. All screenings are at 11:00pm. Tickets are available online in advance or at the door for $8 or $6 if you come in costume. Follow the Rio Theatre on Facebook and Twitter for more film screenings, comedy showcases, and special event information.

Back in January the Vancouver Canucks decided that with a new season they should introduce a new song for when their players hit the ice at Rogers Arena. While many loved U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”, almost just as many loathed it as the entry song. So, the Canucks tried a few options on for size during their first few home games before settling on “The House That Heaven Built” by the Vancouver-based alt-rock duo, Japandroids.

According to the Canucks, there were over 2,850 submissions for the new entry song, which they called Project NU2. They whittled down their choices and provided fans with six options. “A Warrior’s Call” by Volbeat, “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, “Burn It To The Ground” by Nickelback, “We Are” by Static in the Stars, “Stockholm” by DJ MEG, and the winning track “The House That Heaven Built” by Japandroids.

Early in the game, ” Welcome to the Jungle was running away with the contest, with Burn It To The Ground placing second,” says Derek Jory on the Canucks website. But then something big happened to propel “The House That Heaven Built” to the top of the stack:

The pair of Brian King and David Prowse was acclaimed by a number of music publications in 2012 – Pitchfork, SPIN, Rolling Stone and more — and has been nominated for a Juno and for the Polaris Music Prize for its album Celebration Rock.
SPIN, which named Japandroids “band of the year” in 2012, apparently gave the King and Prowse the edge when it asked for fans to rally behind the song and to go vote en masse. [Vancouver Sun]

That boost from SPIN was a doozy. Around 18,000 fan votes were tallied and the Canucks skated onto the ice Tuesday, February 26, 2013 with the help of Brian King and David Prowse’s tune.

Feedback so far has mostly been celebrating the fact that “Japandroids beat Nickelback!” but even for those who don’t make it to games and who might not even hear the opening track as it is accompanied by sirens and spotlights, it’s still small a victory for local talent.

From here, U2 will still be heard and even Nickelback will continue to be added to the mix. Japandroids simply join the rotation and nightly mix of crowd-pumping beats “all in the hopes of discovering the ultimate song to get the Canucks going at the ultimate moment.”

It starts out as an email to my contact form. A publicist, friend, or artist sends an email to tell me about a new album, act, or show that’s coming up in Vancouver. I’ll reply, possibly book an interview, and the next thing you know it I’m following the blossoming careers of performers like Mojave, Dear Rouge, The Matinee, and Warren Dean Flandez.

Warren Dean Flandez at Surrey Fusion Festival. Photo: John Bollwitt for Miss604.

I first spoke to Warren in the spring 2011 (around the launch of his R&B album Vintage Love) and we met at Surrey’s Fusion Festival a few months later. A short time after that, he was on CBC’s Cover Me Canada and now he’s signed to Reliant/Warner having just released a new single (“My Baby Comes First“). Last week Warren invited me over to his artist development company StudioCloud30 to catch up and show me around the space.

The hallway leading to the front door was unassuming, your run-of-the-mill office building corridor. However, when the door opened to StudioCloud30 there was ambiant music, a sweet aroma in the air, and crisp modern furnishings that made you feel as though you were arriving at the spa for a facial.

“I really wanted the aesthetic of the studio to kind of reflect our clients. I wanted them to feel luxurious and modern and cutting edge when they come here so we really wanted to try and do that.” Warren said that with regards to the white walls and fixtures they also had their clients in mind. “The colour that comes through is the talent and creativity and they can splash on the walls. It lets them be the statement that pops when they walk in.”

“We have clients in the recording booth who get to take home a professional recording when they’re done. When they get to hear themselves back, it’s really honest, really true, and they get to grow from what they’re learning.”

Studio Cloud 30 was incorporated by Warren in 2010 and he said it was hard leaving for 2 months when he did Cover Me Canada but it was an invaluable experience that opened a lot of doors. Now, he’s back at the studio, he has the new single that’s getting airplay, and he’s also a faculty member at Capilano University in their Arts and Entertainment Management program. “I’ve been around forever and a day and just to be able to share what I’ve gone through and my knowledge is huge.”

With Studio Cloud 30, Warren says they cater what they do, and how they teach, to the individual needs of their clients. They currently offer vocal coaching, guitar and piano lessons, acting voice over coaching, along with the administrative side of being an artist which includes bio writing, photography, graphic design, performance coaching, and writing.

“What I looked for when hiring my instructors was if they had various training in all different fields because what might be great for someone might not be great for another person. It’s all about taking different facets of vocal coaching and creating one customized plan for the individual artist.”

Warren offered me a vocal lesson, which I politely declined before he finished his sentence, but if were to work on my pitch anywhere but my shower or my car, I would look to StudioCloud30. It’s always heartwarming to see someone follow their dreams with passion and determination, and it’s even more rewarding when you see their hard work pay off.