A favourite summer tradition in the city, Ballet in the Park presents audiences the opportunity to enjoy dance under the prairie sky.
The free event at Assiniboine Park’s Lyric Theatre features the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company dancers as well as those from the professional and recreational divisions.
“First off, dancing outside is a totally different beast,” says soloist Stephan Azulay.
Noting the summer heat and blinding setting sun which, together with the thousands in attendance, provides a “pretty amazing” – though vastly different – experience than that in the RWB’s home at the Centennial Concert Hall.
The London-born, Sydney-raised dancer has a cherished place in his heart for the event.
“For me, Ballet in the Park is pretty special because it’s the first thing you do with the Company,” says Azulay, who fondly remembers the excitement – and stresses – of his first performance in 2017.
With just two weeks of rehearsal, the Company often remounts selections from the past season.
Surely this, too, will be a year remembered by Azulay as the Company remounts his own work, Bleecker & 6th.
Debuted as part of RWB’s “Fast Forward” in March, the neo-classical, New York-inspired work promises to be a crowd pleaser.
In addition to performances by the Company, professional and recreation division dancers, younger audience members participate in several activities, including facepainting, a craft station and a free creative movement class. A variety of food trucks will also be on the premises.
Ballet in the Park begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26th running through Friday, July 28th.
RWB reminds attendees that this is an outdoor event. Make sure to dress appropriately and be mindful of sun protection. Ballet in the Park may run as scheduled rain or shine; if there is a need to cancel due to inclement weather, they will make the announcement on their social media channels.
It is recommended to bring lawn chairs, cushions, and/or blankets to sit on; snacks and water to keep you fueled and hydrated; and a desire to reconnect and enjoy live dance!