RWB Aspirants had a rare treat yesterday when La la la Human Steps dancers; William Smith and RWB School alumni Zofia Tujaka and Jason Shipley-Holmes held a workshop at the RWB. The two-day workshop gave Aspirants a glimpse of what a day of work might be like with leading contemporary choreographer Edouard Lock and his globe-trotting company La La La Human Steps.

Renowned choreographer and La la la Human Steps Artistic Director Edouard Lock made an appearance at day two of the workshop to bestow some words of wisdom on the young artists. “Think percussive, rhythmic, precision,” Lock instructed the Aspirants. The company is famed for its intricate movements and breakneck performance speed and accuracy, and the workshop combined all those elements into some truly unique movement patterns.



“It was much more physical than I ever would have expected,” said Aspirant Katie Bonnell. “The movements are sharp and intricate but they’re not huge. It takes the skill of the performers to get the impressiveness of the movements across. I loved it – I never would have thought I’d have the chance to work with them and it was incredible.”

"It was a great workshop,”  agrees Jera Wolfe. "They take ballet and classical lines and just mess with it and speed it up. It’s amazing to dance. When we started learning it, it was a complete mess but then once you get it together it’s incredible movement!”



Catch La la la Human steps in performance tonight at the Centennial Concert Hall as part of  the WSO New Music Festival. Read more »

The RWB School Audition Tour will wrap up this Sunday in Winnipeg. It is the last chance for talented young dancers to try out for a coveted spot at the RWB School Summer Session. Level 7 Professional Division students Kylie Duggan and Filip Kurlowicz both know what it takes to make it in the Professional Division of the RWB School and they took some time out of their busy schedule to share some of their experience and wisdom with the hopefuls.

This video with Kylie and Filip also includes footage of them dancing the Grand Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty, sheds some light on what it’s really like to live and dance at the RWB.

RWB Alumni Victor Duret with Jo-Ann Sundermeier, Harrison James, Amanda Green, Dmitri Dovgoselets & Tara Birtwhistle

RWB Alumni Victor Duret was with The RWB Company in 1953 when it received its Royal Charter. Mr. Duret joined the current company to watch a rehearsal of Moulin Rouge at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa while visiting family. He also sat down with Artistic Director, André Lewis to reminisce about ballets of Mr. Duret's era. RWB is pleased to have had Mr. Duret as a guest during the tour.

RWB School embarked on its Annual Audition Tour this past October and the results have been great so far!

RWB is pleased to report that the turnout in Minneapolis was very good, our best numbers since the 2003-04 tour! 

If you or someone you know would like to audition in Montréal, London or Winnipeg click here for more information. Auditions are open to dancers 10-years and older. All levels and styles of dance welcome.

Next up on the tour is Montréal this Sunday, January 29th!

MONTRÉAL - Sunday 29 January 2012
LONDON - Monday 30 January 2012
WINNIPEG - Sunday 5 February 2012

Before the holidays, RWB was thrilled to present the Free Press Contest winner, Justin Rempel with his prize pack! Included were an Asessippi 2 day lift and rentals for 4 and a 1 night accommodation at The Russell Inn.

Congratulations Justin! Enjoy your winter fun!

Justin Rempel with Senior Director of Marketing and Development Judy Slivinski PHOTO CREDIT: Michelle Blais