Tonight is RWB's World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen"

CBC Arts Correspondent and SCENE Producer Andrea Ratuski attended dress rehearsal, and files this report on the RWB's "Pure Ballet" and the World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen".

Leonard Cohen's music comes to life at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet



As you'd imagine with the words and music of Leonard Cohen, there's great range and variety in the program - so, consider this as being treated to a flake...

And, heading into soundcheck at Manitoba's 2305-seat Centennial Concert Hall - here's the view from the sound-board.

Tonight is the opening of "Pure Ballet" - and the World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen". This ballet, choreographed by Jorden Morris, invites us to explore the words and music of Leonard Cohen. Allison Crowe performs "Hallelujah" in this piece, and the song is danced by Sophia Lee in performances on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Jo-Ann Gudilin (nee Sundermeier) dances the role on Thursday and Saturday.

A Day Off In the 'Peg

Sunday.

All is quiet and still inside the Founder's Studio of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Allison Crowe is off - enjoying the pleasures of this city at the heart of Canada. Tomorrow - dancers and musicians resume rehearsals leading up to this week's World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen".

Dancing Days - Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Here's the first back-stage look into "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen". Says Allison: "I think this is more half yoga than ballet - regardless, the pants are entirely RWB ;) in the spirit of things".

"I wish you could all see this - what a beautiful experience - the RWB is amazing!" (Allison's tweet/post following first rehearsal with all the musicians and dancers.)

Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the first organization to present a theatrical or dance production of the works of Leonard Cohen, (1970s "The Shining People of Leonard Cohen"), this May, 2012, presents the World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen", a contemporary dance piece based on the words and music of Cohen, choreographed by Jorden Morris. Musician Allison Crowe performs "Hallelujah" live on-stage (voice, piano) in this new ballet.