spotlight BALLET B.C. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR REID ANDERSON REID ANDERSON’S younger sister refused to go to dance class without him, so he tagged along to hold her hand. She later went on to become an actress, he a dancer. Today Anderson, 39, makes his home in the British Properties and his living as the artistic director of Ballet British Columbia, the hot young company with the fiery per- formances that is now a new force in Canadian bailet. STEPHEN BARRINGTON feature writer In his early teens he fell in love with ballet, and in doing so set himself up for numerous jibes from his New Westminster schoolmates, : “I thought of chucking in the towel just because I got a lot of flak from my contemporaries,”’ he remembers. ‘‘But it made me stronger. Why should they tell me what to do?’* Bringing | with him 20 years of experience in Europe with the Stuttgart Baliet and other com- panies there, he returned to Van- couver for Ballet B.C.’s inaugural performance in 1986, and was named artistic director the next year. Combining classical style with bold new choreography, the com- pany has, since that first perfor- mance, become an overnight suc- cess, wowing critics and audiences across the country. ‘‘When I came into this artistic climate, I thought I was just doing the obvious,’’ he explains of the company’s success. “But for Canada it wasn’t obvious. Maybe I just have another outlook, I don’t know.”’ Taking classical ballet in a dif- ferent direction and stressing B.C.’s FAT FARM Open For 3 Years Weight Loss Vacations Inches Off Vacations Executive Renewal Vacations Massages Faciais @ Manicures Pedicures Gourmet Reduced Meals Daily Aerobics » Aqua-tit Hikes e Stretch Classes Workshops e Seminars Indoér Pool o Saunas Jacuzzis e Chalets THE HILLS HEALTH RANCH C-26, 108 Mile, B.C, VOK ZE0, (604) 791-5225 NEWS photo Neil Lucente REID ANDERSON...at the helm of a new company with a hot reputation. young talent, Anderson has put together a repertoire reflecting what he sees as the art’s new form. ‘Ballet has moved out of being this pink, prissy, sissy thing to be- ing something that can comment on our times, which is what we’re trying to do with Ballet B.C.” Performed to music of Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, the company’s Lovesongs is just such a piece: ‘It’s controversial, it's hard-hitting, brutal, gruesome,”’ Anderson said of a recent Toronto performance. ‘*Some people...can’t believe it, they can’t believe their eyes. Other people just think it’s one of the sharpest things they’ve seen in their lives.”” With performances such as Lovesongs, which has a sensual style and innovative choreography, the 16-dancer troupe continues to entrench itself among the country’s established companies. Despite his approach, Anderson sees himself not as a rebel. “You've just got to take for granted that you’ve learned some- thing all these years, put it in the pot and trust your instincts.’” His best-kept secret: he has not seen The Turning Point. outside on the Market’s South Plaza July 10th @ 2:00 p.m. “The North Shore Youth Band” MAR K 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver Daily 9:30-- 6:30 p.m. Thursday & Friday 9:30-9:00 p.m. 13 - Friday, July 8, 1988 - North Shore News Festival gives musicians feedback TWENTY-SIX North Vancouver junior bands and orchestras filled the William E. Lucas Centre with sweet music June 22 at the 1988 North Vancouver Elementary Band and Orchestra Festival. Over 700 students from School District 44 took part in the annual event, now in its ninth year. But for the first time, all of this year’ s performers were first-year music students. Bob Rankin, district music HO education coordinator, said the day was “‘terrific...it’s the best one we've had yet. Everyone was im- pressed with the progress the first year students had made.” Rankin said the purpose of the festival is to give students a goal to work towards at the end of the school year. Tape recorded comments on the student’s performances will also provide the students with feedback on their performance, said Rankin. SESHOE AY’S ALE IS BACK ~ Brewers “of Traditional Reat Ale~ A traditional Real Ale with no preservatives or additives. Each Restaurant has its own recipe crafted to taste best with each menu. We use the finest British malts, and Horseshoe Bay’s own clean clear Black Mountain Water from peaks surrounding the bay. AVAILABLE ONLY IN HORSESHOE BAY! at these Restaurants 6418 Bay St. 6695 Nelson Ave. 6408 Bay St. HORSESHOE BAY BREWERY TOUR INFORMATION CALL 921-6116