For dancer Livona Ellis, there’s no greater motivation than the thrill experienced from taking the stage.
“When you think about the end goal and you get to be onstage performing in front of all those people, it’s just so worth it, it’s just so satisfying. I couldn’t imagine my life without that feeling,” says the 24-year-old Ballet B.C. member, when asked what drives her.
Further encouraging is the sense of satisfaction derived from working and collaborating in the studio with colleagues and choreographers alike.
“That feeling as well is amazing. It feels like we’re really doing something important. I feel like I have a real purpose,” she says.
Ellis is in her fifth season with Ballet B.C. “Every year it just gets better and better — the choreographers that we’re working with and each year we’re touring more. Obviously, as the seasons progress, I’m moving my way up in the company and having more responsibilities, which has been great, and more opportunities on stage,” she says. Ellis is in the midst of rehearsals for the company’s next performance, Trace, a triple-bill program featuring works by three returning internationally-renowned choreographers, March 26-28 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Trace will include the Canadian premiere of William Forsythe’s workwithinwork, a world premiere by Walter Matteini and Petite Cérémonie by Medhi Walerski.
While Ellis is looking forward to performing in each of the pieces, which she describes as “really distinct and individual,” Walerski’s Petite Cérémonie is of particular interest as she was featured in its Vancouver premiere as an apprentice with Ballet B.C. back in 2011.
“It holds a special place in my heart because it was that piece that I feel like allowed me the chance to become a full member,” she says. Her performance of the role, which she’s repeating this time around with the addition of a duet section, along with her hard work throughout her apprenticeship, helped her earn a permanent home at Ballet B.C. Ellis has been enjoying the opportunity to revisit the piece. “I’ve come a long way and it’s nice to bring a piece back and you find so many new things because obviously I’m different. I’ve grown. So the way I approach things now is different. So to have to go back to an older piece and kind of reinvent it, but still keep the essence of where it came from, it’s actually really exciting to have a second chance at it,” she says.
Petite Cérémonie, a work for the full company, discusses relationships between men and women and the proposition of life in a box. Walerski, a dancer and choreographer with Netherlands Dance Theater, is a continued contributor to Ballet B.C., having worked with the company last season, and they plan on bringing him back again next year. The relationship speaks to the company’s focus on collaborating with international choreographers. “It’s nice to work with them because they bring something so different, not only for us the dancers but also for our audiences,” says Ellis.
The full company workwithinwork marks Ellis’s second time performing a piece by Forsythe.
“I love it. It’s based in classicism but his work is always taken to the extreme. We’re wearing pointe shoes but we’re asked to do the craziest things in pointe shoes. It’s definitely not a classical ballet,” she says.
The piece is set to music by Luciano Berio, “Duo for two Violins,” and is divided into small sections, seeing the dancers play with and off the music, as well as off each other. While physically it’s very challenging and very demanding on the dancers’ bodies, it’s a fun work nonetheless. “It’s playful in its own way. It’s abstract, there’s no real storyline or anything, but it’s more the relationship between the movement, the space and the music,” says Ellis.
The third piece on the program, by Matteini, seeks to play with the light and dark sides of human nature.
“The style is very grounded, very emotional. It’s very physical work and he plays... with a lot of theatricality within the space, and the movement and the music that he uses is just absolutely beautiful. He’s been wonderful to work with and he’s so positive and patient, and he really just pulls a lot of things out of you that you didn’t expect,” says Ellis.
In addition to her work as a dancer, Ellis is continuing to pursue growing passions for both teaching and choreographing. A couple of times a year she returns to Arts Umbrella, her alma mater, to work with students. She’s currently choreographing a group of dancers, ages 12 to 14. They’ll perform her four-minute piece at their end-of-year recital in June.
“I love going back to Arts Umbrella. It feels like home and it’s nice to be a part of that group again. Every time I go back and do class or even just watch, it reminds me of why I do this. And also I keep learning and there’s always new information that I can pick up and take with me here and apply to the things that we’re doing here, so it’s really great,” she says.
Trace runs March 26 to 28 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets, call 1-855-985-2787 or go to ticketmaster.ca. Details at balletbc.com.
