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A violin’s personality: Timothy Chooi and his 1729 Guarneri del Gesù
January 19, 2015When musicians perform they become one with their instrument. For violinists, the bow is an extension of their arm, and the sound communicates their emotions and interpretation of the score. While training at the National Arts Centre's Summer Music Institute, Timothy Chooi (age 20) took…
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From the ground up: NAC Dance, catalyst of creation
January 17, 2015NAC Dance is proud to present Canadian work. But it also has a long history of co-producing with Canadian dance artists and actively partnering in the creation and development of new work. “Co-producing allows the NAC to be one of a series of important organizations around the world in the…
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Crystal Pite and the world stage
December 15, 2014In a NAC Dance Podcast interview with Cathy Levy in 2009 at the time of her show Dark Matters, the acclaimed Vancouver dancer-choreographer Crystal Pite spoke about her first time coming to the NAC. It was 25 years ago, and she was then a dancer with Ballet British Columbia. “All I…
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The ultimate gift: A dance to honour prima ballerina Anik Bissonnette
November 19, 2014There was a magical moment at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala last May and it began with a phone call to Guillaume Côté, principal dancer and choreographic associate with the National Ballet of Canada. “I called Guillaume in January and asked him if he would do a tribute…
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Behind the scenes at pianist Jan Lisiecki’s portrait shoot
November 14, 2014When Jan Lisiecki was only ten years old, he stepped onto the stage to perform with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. “The NAC musicians were extremely kind, though perhaps slightly skeptical. That’s only natural when you’re ten and playing with such an acclaimed orchestra. But they were…
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Ce qui nous relie ? Sharing a space
November 12, 2014Eleven local youth will be part of the adventure. They said YES to the unique creation process led by an author and multidisciplinary artist. With their dreams and imagination they will try to remodel the present time. But first, they must meet and get acquainted.
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Epic influences and dancing in socks: Q+A with dancemakers Amber Funk Barton...
October 8, 2014Amber Funk Barton and Josh Martin – two of Vancouver’s hottest young choreographers – make their NAC Dance debut in the 2014-15 season, each performing a solo contemporary work and coming together for a high-impact duet, Hero & Heroine. Their program was conceived especially for the NAC and…
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Musical inspiration fuelled by coffee
September 22, 2014NAC Orchestra violinist Carissa Klopoushak is passionate about music and coffee. She has travelled around the globe performing and takes great pleasure in discovering the local coffee shop scene in the cities she visits. "I think we all care about the details in life. In making sure that…
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“My magic castle”: Growing up at the NAC
July 14, 2014My love affair with the National Arts Centre began at a young age. Whether it was the beautiful Nutcracker ballet or the hilarious Christmas pantomime, I’m not 100% sure which show was my first, but I have clear memories of the long hike up to the balcony level, gazing up and then down at…
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A Gift to Canada: The Right Honourable Joe Clark’s family commissions major...
June 5, 2014It’s not easy to surprise a former Prime Minister, but that’s exactly what the Right Honourable Joe Clark’s family did on June 5 at the National Arts Centre when they announced that their gift to him for his 75th birthday is a new piece of music commissioned for the National Arts Centre…