The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (“RWB”) is bringing a modern version of Alice’s Wonderland across the country this month, stopping in Vancouver for shows March 24th until the 27th.
“This is not your grandmother’s Wonderland,” said Principal dancer Tara Birtwhistle during our telephone interview. She’s currently rehearsing in-studio with the company before the tour.
Photo credit: David Cooper
“Our Wonderland is very unique, I don’t think the ballet world has seen anything like it.” Birtwhistle added that the RWB’s production is contemporary and is set in modern times, including references to the internet and television. “It sort of parallels what happens in our lives today – everyone has a different Wonderland to accept.”
The contemporary performance will also have the dancers vocalize, something that is very rare in ballet.
In fact, the RWB has been doing many things differently to help evolve the medium; they have been posting videos on Vimeo and YouTube throughout the rehearsal process, they are on Twitter, Facebook, and are reaching out to bloggers (such as yours truly) to help promote the show.
Born in Vancouver, Birtwhistle still has family here and has been with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for 20 years and will have her farewell performance starring in the company’s The Ecstasy of Rita Joe later this year. She will go on to teach at the RWB, passing on the experience she’s gained throughout her remarkable career that has included traveling the globe and even performing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“I feel very fulfilled and at peace with leaving the stage but at the same time, I feel sad because it’s who we are. A dancer is what I’ve been my entire life, and I’ll always be a dancer.” You can catch her playing the role of the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland at the Centre for Performing Arts in Vancouver later this month.
BC Parks is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year while it is also the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada in 2011. Although Banff National Park is 125 years old, Parks Canada was officially established in 1911 and was the first national park service in the world. In BC, we have 7 National Parks.
Glacier National Park
Yoho National Park of Canada
Emerald Lake. Photo credit:
Jasmic on Flickr
Kootenay National Park of Canada
Kootenay River. Photo credit:
aa440 on Flickr
Mount Revelstoke National Park of Canada
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada
Thrashers Cove. Photo credit:
BigA888 on Flickr
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Kat island. Photo credit:
ah zut on Flickr
You can find out more about Canada’s National Parks this weekend (until March 6, 2011) at the BC Home and Garden Show. There you can visit the Canada Pavilion at the Convention Centre to learn more, and even do some trip planning for the warmer months.
Follow @ParksCanada on Twitter for national parks and heritage site news.
With rising food prices, the donation levels at local food banks are falling. The “Fill a Bin for the Kids” event will try to raise awareness for the Surrey Food Bank‘s efforts and to give their supplies a boost throughout the year.
The event takes place Saturday March 19th and Sunday March 20th at the Safeway on 88th and 152nd from 10:30am until 3:00pm. Disposal King Ltd is bringing out an 8 yard bin that they hope to fill with donations that weekend. If filled, the bin will contain 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food item donations.
The Surrey Food Bank alone distributes 2,000 food hampers each week and on a monthly basis they support 15,000 clients, 42% of which are children under the age of 18. The Surrey Food Bank relies solely on community support and donations, serving Surrey (Whalley, Guildford, Cloverdale etc.) as well as North Delta.
Other upcoming events in support of the Food Bank include Breakfast With The Bank, and the 1st annual Kids Can Rodeo in May. Follow @SurreyFoodBank on Twitter for updates.
You can also stop by Canstruction in Vancouver at Canada Place to drop off donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (separate from the Surrey Food Bank) by March 6th.
It was March 3rd 1892 when Charles Woodward opened his first store on the corner of Harris Street (now Georgia) and Westminster Avenue (now Main) in Vancouver. He had just arrived in town from Ontario and the small setup sold dried foods. It wasn’t until 1895 that he added a drug department, incorporated (Woodward Stores Limited), and bought a lot on Hastings and Abbott. In 1903 Woodward’s Department Store opened its doors. Over the last century, Charles’ innovations have given us not only the department store concept (with grocery floor), but a local legacy.
1891 – Residence at 209 Harris Street (Georgia Street), the building to the left was
the first Woodward’s store. Archives Item# SGN 342. Photographer: Charles S. Bailey
1910s – Woodward’s from Hastings and Abbott. Archives Item# M-11-51.
Photographer: Richard Broadbridge
1946 – Woodward’s window bathing suit display. Archives Item# CVA 1184-3603.
Photographer: Jack Lindsay
1948 – Woodward’s grocery delivery department interior and clerks. VPL Accession# 27803.
Photographer: Dominion Photo Co.
1938 – Woodward’s department store beacon. Archives Item# Van Sc P114.
Photographer: Charles S. Bailey
The Woodward’s development is currently has tenants such as Nester’s Market (the new Woodward’s food floor), London Drugs, TD Bank, JJ Bean Coffee, The Charles Bar, Woodward’s Community Housing Coalition, W2 Community Arts, and SFU Woodward’s, along with offices and condos.
Read more posts under my ‘Woodwards‘ tag.
Vancouver Events for Japan Disaster Relief
I’m certain no one could have predicted that we would be rolling into March with crocus-crushing snow and sleet. While the weather has been slightly off for this time of year (and our neck of the woods) the events scene is hopping as usual. The following events have all been submitted by email for listing this month.
Tuesday March 1, 2011
Kids performance: Swimmy, Frederick and Inch by Inch (until March 6)
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Society’s Haiku Invitational
Vancouver International Dance Festival (until March 19)
Wednesday March 2, 2011
Pacific Salmon Foundation Charity Art AuctionPacific Salmon Foundation Charity Art Auction
Glam Glam Give
Thursday March 3, 2011
Dress for Success Vancouver IMPACT fundraising event
Gorgeous Pop Up Party
Katherine Surridge at the Baron Gallery
Museum of Vancouver: Curator Talk & Tour: SweaterLodge
Tweetup fundraiser for F’Cancer Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
