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Pair picked to train as soloists

Layne Christensen
News Reporter layne@nsnews.com

IN the rarefied world of ballet it can take years for
a dancer to rise through the ranks to top job of

prima ballerina.

“Pwo West Van teens are making the first leap by joining the Moscow City
Ballet as soloists in training.

Olympia Dowd, 14, and Rebecea Blaney, 17, board planes to Russia this
long weekend. They were hand-picked in June by the ballet’s directors dur-
ing summer school classes at Vancouver's Russian Community Centre.

Both have signed two-vear contracts with the company, which has plans
to tour the US. next vear. Its a chance of a lifetame, say the gurls® parents.

“Ic’s almost an unreal dream, almost surreal,” says John Dowd, a chil
dren’s book author, who will travel with his daughter to Moscow tomorrow
and stay with her there tor several weeks. Rebecea’s dad, Tom Blaney, who
runs 4 family trucking business, flies out today with his daughter but will
onty spend 10 davs inthe Russian civ betore returning

“Lina Blaney recoenizes the signitiance of her daughter. achievements

“This is an incredible opportunity tor her,” 1 isiaiey. whose own
mother, Jean Orr, was one of Canada’s prima ballerinas in the 1950s. A prin

cipal with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Orr was the first Canadian to dance

See Girls page 5

NV District files suit
over hail construction

Robert Galster
News Reporter robert@nsnews.com

NORTH Vancouver District has filed a claim
against the architect and contractor who built the
municipality’s district hall in 1992.

The suit was filed on July 13 and secks damages in excess of the $136,198
and additional interest held back by the munwipality atthe ume of construc
ton. But ne one at the distinct -- neither staft ner politiciuns ~~ know much
about the nature of the suit

Peter Busby of Rusby and Asseciates Dtd., the architectural firm supervis-
ing the project, was abe unaware of what the writ was all about even though

he is named asa defendant.

“Pve phoned all the people at city bail Pse dealt with” he said, Sand no NEWS phato Brad Ledwidga

WEST Van teens Olympia Dowd (left) and Rebecca Blaney leave this weekend for Russia. The y are
Ser Hal! pauc S$ the only Vancouver dancers invited to join the Moscow City Ballet, which held classes here in June.

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