Shows
May 2009
Dance Artistico
The Mission Dance Centre presented Dance Artistico on May 2nd, 2009 at the Kelowna Community Theatre (shows at 2pm and 7:30pm).
Alice in Wonderland, performed by the Mission Dance Centre recreational students of all ages, was the first half of the show.
The second half showed a variety of dance styles (Ballet, Flamenco, Modern, Jazz and Swing), performed by the Junior Apprentices, Apprentices, Flamenco Troupe & Flamenco Students and the Mission Dance Company.
November 2008
Dance Fortissimo
Mission Dance Company presents the very successfull Dance Fortissimo production at the Kelowna Community Centre with live music and the “Grande Finale” with the Yamabiko Taiko Drummers.
July 2008
Arts on the Fly Festival
The Mission Dance Company performs, on tour, in Horsefly, BC to Ballet, Modern and Flamenco Dances choreographed by Tanya Bakala, and a Swing number choreographed by Melanie Newell.
June 2008
Fat Cat Children’s Festival Parade
Mission Dance Centre and members of the Mission Dance Company dress in costume and parade in downtown Kelowna with Cinderella and her Carriage. Mission Dance Centre was awarded “Best walking Exhibition” at this event!
Sutherland Hills Senior Residence
Mission Dance Company and Students of the Mission Dance Centre perform a 45-minute show for seniors including Ballet, Modern, and Flamenco numbers for all ages.
May 2008
Kelowna Dances
Mission Dance Company and Students of the Mission Dance Centre perform, Tanya Bakala’s “Missa Brevis” and Melanie Newell’s “Encumbered Interactions.”
Life and Art’s Festival
Mission Dance Company performs Flamenco and Modern outside at Kelowna’s Life and Art’s Festival.
Positively Posh Night
Mission Dance Company and Students of the Mission Dance Centre perform “Sing, Swing, Sing” and “Mini the Moocher,” both Choreographed by Melanie Newell, as part of the exciting ticketed fundraiser for the Life and Arts Festival.
19 April, 2008
Dance Artistico 2008
The Mission Dance Company presented Dance Artistico 2008 on Saturday, 19 April in the Kelowna Community Theatre.
Dance Artistico April 2008 (Two shows)
- 2:00pm
- 7:30pm
The first half of the show charmed the audience with a retelling of the timeless tale of “Cinderella” – a story ballet featuring The Mission Dance Company and the students of the Mission Dance Centre. Artistic Director and choreographer Tanya Bakala created a wonderful ballet telling Cinderella’s story of courage and goodness.
The second half of the performance was filled with an exciting variety of dance styles and music. Missa Brevis is a new ballet choreographed by Tanya Bakala and set to music composed by Okanagan Symphony member Imant Raminsh. Mr. Raminsh’s work is world renowned and his compositions have been performed on 6 continents.
Another highlight of the shows will be the appearance of Guest Artist Erika Ingram. She will be featured in a solo performance excerpted from the famous ballet Don Quixote.
The audience was treated to a new Modern work by local dancer and choreographer Melanie Newell and set to the music of Bjork and the Sugarcubes. Handel Variations was performed by the Company and Apprentices in which the dancers respond to the intricate changes of music with their steps and interwoven movement in space. The Mission Dance Flamenco Troupe was joined by the Apprentices and Flamenco students for a performance of a traditional Sevillanas dance from Spain. Face to the Wall, choreographed by Tanya Bakala, was a very passionate and emotional Modern ballet about a woman whose past romantic affection is still tormenting her.
January 2008
Rising Star
Mission Dance Company performs in a continuation of the Rotary Centre for the Art’s Evergreen Fundraisor
December 2007
Christmas at Benvoulin Heritage Church
Mission Dance Company and students of the Mission Dance Centre perform at Benvoulin Church for the Kelowna Heritage Society.
Mission Dance Open House
Mission Dance Company, Flamenco Troupe and students of the Mission Dance Centre demonstrate class-work and perform at the Mary Irwin Theatre.
November 2007
Lulu Lemon Dance-line Launch Party
Lulu Lemon launches their new dance-line featuring a special performance by the Mission Dance Company
Fairy Tales and Fables
The OKANAGAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA lights up the stage with guest, Tanya Bakala, from the Mission Dance Company.
Rotary Centre for the Art’s Evergreen Fundraiser
Mission Dance Company performs in the Mary Irwin Theatre, and Mission Dance Students appear in costume to help the Rotary Centre for the Arts raise funds for Youth Education in the Arts.
Homes for the Holidays
Mission Dance Company, Flamenco Troupe, and students of the Mission Dance Centre perform at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
Flamenco Troupe Performs at Big White
The Mission Dance Flamenco Troupe performs for a Private Function at Big White.
August 2007
Shambhala Music Festival
The company performed Flamenco and Modern pieces at the world-renowned festival near Nelson. www.shambhalamusicfestival.com
May 2007
Through the Ages
Mission Dance Centre and Mission Dance Company Perform at the Mary Irwin Theatre
Mission Dance Centre mounted our most ambitious year-end show ever to rave reviews on May23rd, 2007. All who attended enjoyed an evening of ballet, contemporary and flamenco dance at the Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Centre For The Arts.
Show choreography was by Tanya Bakala, Artistic Director of Mission Dance Centre and Mission Dance Company.
The evening opened with The Renaissance Dance. It was a dance for ballet lovers of all ages as it wove dancers, from young children to teens and young adults, into a series of dance vignettes. The costumes beautifully represented the era and it was a charming series of dances that well showcased the talents of the students.
Guest appearances from the Mission Dance Company enhanced the overall dance.
The next numbers represented the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. Mission Dance Company performed a duet called Spring Pas de Deux for the Baroque era and a solo called Handel Variation for the Classical era.
The beginner adult ballet classes performed a lovely dance to represent the Romantic era.
In the second half, Contemporary Dance was represented by an exciting and powerful Modern piece called Perpetuum by the Mission Dance Company.
Then the Beginner Character class performed a traditional Slovak Folk Dance.
Mission Dance Centre’s Flamenco young students performed a fun piece highlighted by very sweet Flamenco costumes
Mission Dance Company contributed two strong Flamenco dances in very different styles.They reprised the very popular first movement of Flamenco Mass, first seen in Season’s Inspirations in November, 2006, and then performed an amazing fifteen minute dance called Play with Rhythm in which there was no music save a sole drum and the dancers clapping and stomping.
February 10 to 11, 2007
- Kelowna Community Theatre
- Penticton Cleland Theatre
- Vernon Performing Arts Centre
Carnival! OKANAGAN SYMPHONY HEATED UP THE STAGE WITH LATIN INSPIRED MUSIC & DANCE
From the infectious tempo of the Tico Tico, to the toe-tapping of the Fandango, and the sultry movements of the Tango, the Okanagan Symphony spiced up the season with a fiery performance inspired by the rhythmic roots of Cuban folk music and Latin American dance.
Rosemary Thomson, Music Director finalist was joined by professional dancers from The Mission Dance Company and special guest Jeremy Brown on Saxophone. Together they heated up the stage in a mesmerizing performance that combined Latin-influenced music and rhythmic footwork.
“Working with a live orchestra is an exciting opportunity for any dance artist. Each dance program is interpreted uniquely and choreographed with dancers appearing singly, in pairs or as a group in various attitudes and costumes that is typical of Spanish and flamenco dancing,” said Tanya Bakala, Artistic Director of the Mission Dance Company.
November 18, 2006
Seasons Inspirations
- Started at 7:30pm
- Reception followed
The evening’s program opened with “Alice in Wonderland” – a story ballet featuring The Mission Dance Company and the students of the Mission Dance Centre. The audience joined Alice as she discovered the fun and quirky characters in Wonderland including the Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar, dancing Flowers and Forest Creatures and, of course, the grouchy Queen of Hearts.
The second half began with the “Nutcracker Dances”. This again was a dance perfectly geared to children as it highlighted the key dances in the ever popular Nutcracker Ballet. The audience saw the exciting and challenging Arabian, Russian and Spanish Dances, the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy solo and pas de deux with the Nutcracker Prince.
The final performance of the evening was the ultimate inspiration for the season. “Flamenco Mass” was performed by the Flamenco members of the Mission Dance Company and began with gentle but emotional dancing. The dance intensified in energy and excitement cumulating to a joyful, celebratory finish of rich red swirling skirts and castanets. Tanya Bakala said of her original choreography “This dance was a modern interpretation of a traditional Spanish choral mass set to Flamenco rhythms”.
It was a wonderful evening.
March 11, 2006
Dance Artistico
- Started at 7:30pm
- Reception followed
The Mission Dance Company of Kelowna presented an entertaining evening at the Kelowna Community Theatre featuring the wonderful choreograhy of Tanya Bakala to the music of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring” starring dancer Caitlin Lockwood. Also on the program the audience was treated to the music of pianist Stu Goldberg, violinist Denis Letourneau and the Heartstrings Quartet. The evening concluded with a stirring Flamenco performance of “Gypsy Blood” by the Mission Dance Company.