AHA Media

AHA MEDIA attended the first performance of ” A Streetcar Named Desire” by Ballet BC at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Downtown Vancouver.

” Based on the 1947  Tennessee Williams Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, A Streetcar Named Desire is a highly dramatic contemporary ballet. This full-length work includes Alleyne’s unique signature choreography as well an innovative lighting, set and costume design, and an original jazz score. Wrought iron fretwork and hanging Spanish moss help to capture the sensuality and moodiness of the Old French Quarter in New Orleans”

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter.

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A Message from John Alleyne, Artistic Director of Ballet BC

“It is a great pleasure to see this powerful ballet appear on stage once again. Premiered to great acclaim in 2006, A Streetcar Named Desire is based on Tennesse William’s theatrical tour de force and brings us themes of vitality, fragility, cruelty, promiscuity, and social realism; themes which we are reminded of from the issues and images of life around us. In particular, while creating this ballet I was struck by the struggle between gentility and commoness as well as the dying aristocracy and vital working class. This full lengt ballet would not be what it is without the music of BC’s own composer Tobin Stokes. Tonight you will hear the recorded version of his original score that was part of a true symbiosis of music and dance. Thank you for your continued support of Ballet British Columia and please enjoy the performance.”

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As it was AHA MEDIA ‘s  first time at the ballet, we were mesmerized and awed by the sheer agility and grace of all the dancers. We were amazed how all elements of a successful and professional performance all seemlessly blended together to entertain the audience.

 From how lighting added to the mood as well as the music helped captured each moment from raw emotion, to extreme joy between characters to touching, heart-breaking poignant scenes. The stage moved from scene to scene smoothly and the dancer’s beautiful and appropriately themed costumed added to the telling of the story.

Being at the ballet is quite an rare, beautiful and artistic event to enjoy, there are no words spoken, only the fluidity of the dancer’s bodies to emote the stories being told the audience.

A Streetcar Named Desire’s  original music  glorious costumes, appropriate props and mood lighting all coordinated flawlessly to give us that all around ereathral, and life changing experience 🙂

 All scenes are performed on one stage, from “memories” of the past being enacted by other dancers to other background performers  helping build and round out the main stage scene – giving a truly mult-faceted event for the human mind and soul to learn, absorb and enjoy! 🙂

 What a truly memorable experience for AHA MEDIA! We feel we have grown as humans and artists. We feel more emotionally intelligent for having watched a performance by Ballet BC.  As we usually have been covering news and event, it’s a blessing to come and see a live show! We felt that our souls were nourished with the beauty of the dancers acting out the story of “A Streetcar Named Desire” 🙂

This is truly the best type of performance art, where the epitome of our best dancers are able to translate to the audience what’s happening in the story! 🙂

“Every picture tells a story!” – Ballet BC

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If AHA MEDIA were to echo parrellisms  from the performance of “A Streetcar Named Desire” where it  depicts the ” struggle between gentility and commonness as well as the dying aristocracy and vital working class”, We as hyper local community reporters and citizen journalists from the Vancouver Downtown Eastside know very well the incoming and ongoing changes to our area – our neighborhood faces  a shift in our community dynamics with the revitalization and gentrification that goes on …to even how some of our folks experiencing grief, loss, trauma, mental illness every day.

“Suddenly, Blanche is all-alone. She has lost her grip on reality, but she smiles and is more old-fashioned and gracious than ever. A doctor and medical attendant help Blanche to her feet. Blanche is calm now, ready to depend henceforward on “the kindness of strangers.” Wherever they may be taking her, it will be better and fuller than her past life has been.”

AHA MEDIA seeks to report on our neighborhood and to give a voice to our Vancouver Downtown Eastside citizens who may be facing struggles everyday which have  the same “themes of vitality, fragility, cruelty, promiscuity, and social realism; themes which we are reminded of from the issues and images of life around us” from the performance “A Streetcar Named Desire”

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AHA MEDIA encourages everybody, ( if they’re able ) to watch  a performance of “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Ballet BC , on now from April 16 – 18th! 🙂 http://www.balletbc.com