Banff Centre Coproduction with World-Renowned Ballerina, Veronica Tennant, to air on CBC and Bravo

Banff Centre Co-production with World-Renowned Ballerina, Veronica Tennant, to air on CBC and Bravo

This season’s final edition of CBC’s Opening Night will premiere TRIO, a short dance-drama, directed and choreographed by the internationally acclaimed Prima Ballerina Veronica Tennant. TRIO features Sherwood Park native Ronda Nychka, who gives a riveting performance in the piece specially created for her.

"Rhonda was my inspiration for this work – an outstanding talent whom I danced with in the National Ballet of Canada and who has a distinguished reputation on the international stage", says Ms Tennant. "She is also a remarkable human being who has overcome several injuries caused by her profession, to return always a better dancer, a more complete person." TRIO underlines the fact that dancers are people, not the creatures they often seem onstage. They are flesh and blood – friends, lovers, competitors.

Ms Nychka is joined by Michel Faigaux of Calgary and John Ottmann of Vancouver, in a story charged with sexual tension, about three dancers whose personal relationships intrude on their daily regimen at the ballet barre. The choreography is set to the Adagio movement of Beethoven’s Trio Opus 11, performed by the celebrated Rolston Trio: Shauna Rolston (cello) and her parents Isobel Rolston (piano) and Tom Rolston (violin), of The Banff Centre's Music & Sound program.

Co-produced by Michele Boniface of Edmonton and Veronica Tennant, TRIO is a collaboration with The Banff Centre. "This is my second Alberta production," says Ms. Tennant. "Once again I am struck by the energy and creativity of our team. And of course The Banff Centre is not only a remarkable setting, it’s a wonderfully inspiring place to work."

A ten-minute version of TRIO will be broadcast on CBC Television, March 28th at 9:00 pm. A six-minute version will be broadcast on Bravo, March 29th between 5:00 and 5:30 pm.

TRIO was produced with assistance from The Banff Centre, the Paul D. Fleck Fellowship in the Arts, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Bravo NewStyleArtsChannel and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

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Check out these links, for more Banff Centre information on:

Media & Visual Arts Department - www.banffcentre.ca/mva
Music & Sound Department - www.banffcentre.ca/music
Dance Related Programs - www.banffcentre.ca/programs
Paul D. Fleck Award Recipients Media Release (May 1, 2001)

The Banff Centre is Canada's only learning centre dedicated to the arts, leadership development, and mountain culture. Programs are designed to enrich professional practice beyond the realm of traditional education. The Centre's unique mountain setting and multidisciplinary environment foster a commitment to personal growth and lifelong learning.