Blending music and dance has been common for centuries. But less common for Ballet Kelowna and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.

The two groups will combine together tonight to celebrate Canada香蕉视频直播檚 150th birthday.

The upcoming performance titled Canadiana Suite: A Sesquicentennial Celebration is a special tribute, May 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Simone Orlando, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Kelowna, said the program has been in the works for two years.

The Capital News visited the artists香蕉视频直播� first dress rehearsal, seeing the artists perform together for the first time.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e had to redefine how we brought the orchestra and ballet together on stage,香蕉视频直播� said Orlando, adding the symphony sits on a scaffolding set which gives the dancers room to perform on stage.

The first half of the program carries the theme of trains and the journey through Canada via train, at one point utilizing Gordon Lightfoot香蕉视频直播檚 Canadian Railroad Trilogy, 香蕉视频直播淚 think what this choreography shows is that it香蕉视频直播檚 the energy, it香蕉视频直播檚 a journey building a nation and the dancers are moving like crazy for the eight minutes. They香蕉视频直播檙e all over the stage. They move as a unit and then they separate and come and move back together,香蕉视频直播� said Orlando.

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The combining of Ballet Kelowna and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Orlando said is 香蕉视频直播渇antastic.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a collaboration on a scale I don香蕉视频直播檛 think this community has seen and we really hope through our partnership, we create a model for organizations to move forward together.香蕉视频直播�

Orlando hopes to work with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra again in the future.

According to a Ballet Kelowna release, 香蕉视频直播淭he OSO brings the magic of live music celebrating Canadian music icons including R. Murray Shafer, Gordon Lightfoot and Oscar Peterson with a specially commissioned arrangement by Lance Anderson, and guest performances by local jazz ensemble The Neville Bowman Trio, and renowned blues artist Shakura S香蕉视频直播橝ida.香蕉视频直播�

Tickets can be purchased through Ballet Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 .