News - 3 n _SUNDAY FOCUS WV teens pursue hopes of ballet Stardom in Moscow Layne Christensen EMS REPORLE layne Onn com TWO West Van teens knew they were taking a leap of faith when they [eit fo Russia in August to follow their dreams of stardom in ballet. Miter ther diseoxeny i Chasse s avril the Moscow Can Gallons su mer school i Vas weater het Viaw Dowd. Ter Vat cant ber Qompany an Hots tae Mery dade picdadine dhe trot pan 2 News false caorured the. trans Of CORN S Afeescet Dues Pauda Newtor. who ds dancers’ ce vperic . WonuNuTe seganent tei cay TY PIUE ths Tucsdan. fans fon Be dy Is an astounding WV SARS show's cyvecutne producer 4 RKoschany, “Pwo teens: chasing dream. tir away trom hone. Ins a John Dowd captures his daughter, Olympia (left), with Rebecca Blaney in classes with the Goh Ballet before the teens leave for shee of inspiration.” Russia to join the Moscow City Bailet. Koschany said the story's aibtest is equally compelling, and thar iss “hew Gan chess parents send their children off hke tha Rebeco'’s mom, Pina Blaine. said its been hard te have the oldest other six children wong. “bat wee mad prety welbevers dav except when she’s on tour” She and her be and Lom, wine runs a funily trucking company, joined ther ds cahter in Danan his tall dure the ballet’s tour ot Asie And pe this past week. vaorerurned trom Wales. where Sn premiered Coaderella, with the no West Vas roles of the Naughty Stepsisters, Accompanying her on that tnp was Rebesea’s urindmother, Jean Orr who, asa prineipal with the Reval Winper Baller in th: P9SOs was one of Canada’s prin balicninas. “They are so ducky te be given this chance to dance these parts. and with such an exceilent company” says Orr when shed atthe Vancouver Baller Souery atfices, Where she works. Jowd’s family have taken more ev reiie Measures FO WITS their daughter's career antold, John Dowd. ao children’s: book author, accompanied his daughter to Moscow, where he remnned tor several weeks, dog umenting the girls’ progress through his caniera’s dens, Curcenthy he’s in England with son, Dylan, 17, an accomphshed musician, soon to be joined by wite Beatrice. es living ina Volkswagen van, while Olvmpia’s stavi four-star hotels” save Beatrice Dowd of the family’s drastic change in lifestyle. The Dowds have sow) their rustic cabin’ on) Hollyburn Mountain, where their children were home schooled. In the family will move to Seville, Spain, where they will to Olympia and where Dylan will study flamenco gui Phatos John Qowd Beatrice Dowd shakes her head when she thinks of her new “hippy de then retleets on the extraordinary impact of her children’s r choices. “They're having the experiences of — AT the end of her first day of rehearsals in Moscow, OLYMPIA Dowd (above) and Rebecca Blaney danced their lives ... and why should we be left behind?” an exhausted Olympia Cowd finds solace ina soak. solos in the company's production of Swan Lake. Photo Tina Blaney For Olympia Dowd (above left), Moscow is a world away from the Hollyburn cabin where she was raised and home-schooled. Rebecca Blaney (centre) training with mem- bers of the Moscow City Ballet. Both dancers were rewarded with solos in the ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, which played to appreciative audiences in Wales.