Where: Cowichan Theatre (Duncan)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday, 1 p.m.
Tickets: $23 regular, $70 family (two adults and two children) at cowichantheatre.bc.ca or 250-748-7529.
AMY SMART
sa国际传媒
The holiday season is hectic for most people. But for ballet dancer Ian Szkolak, who is splitting his time between a leading role in The Nutcracker and as a soloist in The Gift of Pandora鈥檚 Box only a week later, it鈥檚 far from a vacation.
But his biggest challenge?
鈥淭he ferry rides,鈥� he said.
Szkolak commutes to Vancouver each weekend for two days of rehearsals and performances of The Nutcracker with the Royal City Youth Ballet, following five days of the same with Ballet Victoria.
Working overtime during the holidays is nothing new. It鈥檚 the best time for ballet companies to make ticket sales, especially with families and children.
鈥淔or the past five years, it鈥檚 always been extremely busy and I don鈥檛 mind,鈥� said the 25-year-old. 鈥淚t鈥檚 bringing joy to the audience and it completes the holiday atmosphere for lots of people.鈥�
The dancer鈥檚 first hurdle is The Nutcracker, presented at the Cowichan Theatre in Duncan, Friday and Saturday. The Royal City Youth Ballet is a Vancouver company comprising dance students from the school of the same name, with guests like Szkolak.
Szkolak dances the role of cavalier alongside Jessa Leroux.
鈥淚t鈥檚 full of stamina and strength and it鈥檚 enjoyable,鈥� he said of the role.
Another Victoria dancer, Matthew Waldie, performs as the Snow King. A cast of more than 100 dancers joins them.
A week later, he鈥檒l dance as an avatar in Ballet Victoria鈥檚 The Gift of Pandora鈥檚 Box, set to Tchaikovsky鈥檚 music with an interlude by Lady Gaga.
Szkolak joined Ballet Victoria in August, after three years with the Canadian Pacific Ballet and one with Zaryevka Ballet, a new local company.
He said working with artistic director Paul Destrooper has been 鈥渁mazing.鈥�
鈥淭he director is committed to making you the best you can be, which is rare to find with any director,鈥� said Szkolak. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the most enormous gift you can ever find.鈥�
The Gift of Pandora鈥檚 Box runs Dec. 27 to 30 at Victoria鈥檚 Royal Theatre. Tickets are $37 to $80, or $15 for children 12 and under, available at rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121.
