Goh Ballet has been producing some of Canadas most talented and exquisite dancers for 35 years.
In celebration of their success and influence in Vancouvers arts community, the Goh will be hosting an anniversary gala Dance my Dreams on June 1, showcasing pieces from Balanchine and Bournonville as well as a world premier by choreographer Sasha Evtimova.
Sarah Carver, 15, is a quiet and reserved young woman. Her complex emotional focus and energy expressed through movement rather than words.
As such, its no surprise that the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»dancer is performing the challenging and energetic solos in Balanchines Walpurgiesnacht and Bournonvilles Napoli.
Carver has been training with the Goh ballet since she was five. Her years of dedication led her to compete in Bejiing and Korea last year alongside her mentor, Chan Hon Goh.
Its rare to be able to groom somebody from when they are five or six years old, right up to graduation, says Goh, whose parents started the ballet school.
Sarah puts in the time and the determination, and the dedication, and we are here to support that and to give her all of the tools and all of the components necessary to build the type of career we feel that she can have.
Sarah has set her sights high, with hopes of one day joining the UKs prestigious Royal Ballet.
Goh Ballet is a great school, and we get a lot of opportunities here, Carver says
The elegant Chan Hon Goh is not only the schools director, but also a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, an icon in Canadian arts, and a mentor to young dancers.
Its a word that comes with a lot of responsibility, she says. When you say mentor, it means different than a teacher or an instructor. To me, mentorship is so much more all-involving. It has to do with not only the physical aspect of coaching of their dancing, or teaching them how to do a step properly but goes further to mentor their intellect, their perception, their emotional intelligence as well, and to be a support system.
I see it to be beyond a teacher and something that brings a closer bond.
Many graduates from the Goh ballet have gone onto reputable careers on world stages and their success continues to give a name for Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»arts.
A lot of wonderful training, and amazing talent comes from this city and Goh Ballet plays such a vital role in that, said Goh.
Dance My Dreams; Centre in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»for Performing Arts. Tickets are $60/$75 for adults and $51.50/$63.25 for seniors and students. .
