For its next act, the Vancouver Island Symphony is matching musical mastery with physical feats.
On Saturday at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre, the VIS presents Love: A Blink Acro Cirque Spectacular, which will feature 10 acrobats, aerialists and contortionists from the Langley-based circus company interpreting musical pieces that examine the theme of love.
Blink Acro has worked with the VIS once before in Nanaimo at Symphony by the Sea.
Performing with a symphony will be a first for North Vancouver contortionist Stephanie Van Dyck. She’ll be doing a hand-balancing act atop three poles while the symphony plays Dance of the Knights from the Sergei Prokofiev ballet Romeo and Juliet.
As someone who’s always done ballet, Van Dyck said it was nice to incorporate classical music into her act. She said she chose Dance of the Knights over a “softer” piece of music because of its sense of drama.
“It’s a really beautiful piece. It’s very dramatic,” she said. “There are moments that are softer and then more harsh and I really like working with pieces like that because you can change your movements throughout the piece.”
Van Dyck said she’s enjoyed developing her performance around the composition. She said she’ll be doing contorted balancing positions and handstands that demonstrate strength and flexibility.
“I’ve just really enjoyed playing around with it. It’s been very fun,” she said. “With contortion and acrobatics, you kind of just start playing … and moving your body. Seeing how you feel when you’re moving with the music.”
WHAT’S ON … The Vancouver Island Symphony presents Love: A Blink Acro Cirque Spectacular at the Port Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $42 to $74, $18 for students. Available at the box office.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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