When it comes to Christmas performances, it doesn’t get any more festive than this.
The New Westminster Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Academy of Dance are teaming up once again to present their 19th annual collaboration for the holidays. Dance Into Christmas is onstage Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Massey Theatre – and the orchestra says this one promises to be the best ever.
The performance will feature song, dance, music and storytelling.
The orchestra will perform a festival of Christmas songs and carols, while the dancers will showcase a variety of dance stylings to such memorable pieces as Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride.
As an extra treat, New Westminsterite Thomas Lamont – who stole the show with his rendition of On The Street Where You Live in Royal City Musical Theatre’s My Fair Lady production in 2015 – will be featured in O Holy Night and Ave Maria.
Another well-known local resident, actor Russell Roberts, will serve as host and MC and will also provide a seasonal reading.
Once again, the highlight of the evening will be a performance by the orchestra and dancers of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The performance will feature principal dancers from Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montréal, with Emily He dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Célestin Boutin dancing the Cavalier.
Making his debut as conductor of Dance Into Christmas will be guest conductor Nicholas Urquhart, the principal conductor of the Harmonia Chamber Ensemble and the director and conductor of the West Vancouver Youth Band String Ensembles.
Buy tickets through www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
