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Les Grands Ballets Canadians de Montréal performs in Nanaimo at Port Theatre

Ballet show is April 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre
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Minus One is about embracing the natural, honest style of movement for the human body.

The piece is a contemporary dance created by Ohad Naharin, performed by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal.

“In his (Naharin’s) style of movement he requests dancers to move in the most honest way possible,” said Sarah Kingston, a member of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and a Kirkwood Dance Academy alumna, adding it’s not about the shape, position or step of the dancer. “When you do a certain movement it’s how do you get there in the most efficient way. It’s not adding any affectation to it.”

The show is a series of short vignettes, said Kingston.

She said it isn’t about perfection, which is something she has strived for during her training and performance.

“Ballet dancers always struggle to be perfect,” she said.

The dance is about connecting to sensations at that moment, said Kingston, adding it has given her more freedom onstage.

Minus One draws from Naharin’s previous works, which includes Zachacha, Black Milk, Passomezzo, Queens of Golub and others, according to the ballet company’s website. Soloists will dance to a recording of themselves “sharing personal anecdotes and describe their relationship to dance,” according to the website. The soundtrack will alternate between the anecdotes and pop songs, baroque pieces, world rhythms and original compositions.

Kingston started dancing at Kirkwood Academy when she was about three years old. She remembers at the beginning she wasn’t serious. At that age it was just about running around the room, moving and having fun. She didn’t start getting serious until she was about 11. She eventually attended Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. She trained at the school from about age 13 to 18 in classical ballet.

After graduating she headed to Europe to perform with the Leipzig Ballet. She spent two years with the company. Kingston said she was “very fortunate” to join the company. She then heard that Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal was holding auditions. Her homesickness for Canada and family motivated her to apply.

It was at Les Grands Ballets that Kingston said she discovered her love for contemporary dance.

“I think they enriched my experience of dance a lot more,” she said about joining the ballet company.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal presents Minus One at the Port Theatre April 5 at 7:30 p.m. There is a pre-show chat at 6:45 p.m. in the Harmac Room.

The show is part of the Port Theatre’s Spotlight Series.

Tickets are $68 for adults, $64 members and $25 for students available in advance by calling 250-754-8550 or by visiting www.porttheatre.com.

For more information about Les Grands Ballets, please visit https://grandsballets.com.

arts@nanaimobulletin.com