Dance into Christmas will be the 20th annual collaboration between the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Academy of Dance to celebrate the festive season with a selection of songs, dances, music and even story-telling. Returning as your genial host will be Shakespearian actor Russell Roberts. Soprano Ingrid Mapson will be featured along with two special guest dancers that the Richmond Academy of Dance will bring in for the principal roles in the Nutcracker Suite. Returning in the role of conductor is the Musical Director of the New Westminster Symphony Jin Zhang.
The Symphony will kick off the concert with Ade’s Carol Festival before surrendering centre stage to the Richmond Academy of Dance for a performance of Waldteufel’s memorable Skater’s Waltz. This will lead into their annual favourite, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. RAD will then entertain with a vocal number before the Symphony solos on Prokofiev’s Troika from the Lt. Kije Suite, which became associated with the season, when rocker Greg Lake used the melody for his hit I Believe in Father Christmas. The Academy will then return for a feature tap number to There Is A Santa Claus from the movie Elf. Our host Russell Roberts will enthrall attendees with a Christmas Reading before mezzo-soprano Ingrid Mapson regales the audience with Mel Torme’s Christmas Song and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. To close out the first half, the Academy will present their interpretation of Dance of the Knights from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. The second half of the concert will be given over to RAD’s much anticipated annual performance of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker before the Symphony bring the concert to a close with another favourite;, Anderson’s Christmas Festival.
Please note there is no elevator to the balcony
Patrons with mobility issues – please call the Ticket Centre 604 521 5050
Tickets on sale November 1st at noon