Vancouver, BC
Press Release
Ballet Manila Principal Dancers to debut in Vancouver with Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Katherine Barkman, Rudy De Dios and Junmark Sumaylo to make guest appearances as
the Snow Queen, the Snow King and the Nutcracker Prince
Vancouver, BC – Goh Ballet is delighted to announce an artistic collaboration with the leading classical dance company in the Philippines, Ballet Manila. Three Ballet Manila principal dancers – Katherine Barkman, Rudy De Dios and Junmark Sumaylo – will be joining the Goh Ballet cast this holiday season, adding their experience and artistry to a well-loved Vancouver tradition.
Since its first show in 2009, Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker has featured renowned dancers from around the world, showcasing international talent, while fostering artistic excellence in the Vancouver community. This year’s breathtaking performance will take place from December 15th to 20th at The Centre (777 Homer Street).
“I look for excellent dancers who wouldn’t normally perform in Vancouver to further my vision for international artistic collaborations and to feature dancers that will be of significance to the Vancouver public,” said Executive Producer, Chan Hon Goh, regarding Ballet Manila’s appearance.
Katherine Barkman
At 19, Katherine Barkman is the youngest ever to assume the position of principal dancer at Ballet Manila. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Ms. Barkman’s many accolades include a gold medal at the 2014 Youth American Grand Prix in Philadelphia, a gold medal at the 2015 Tanzolymp in Berlin and the Grand Prix’s highest honours at the 2015 Asian Grand Prix in Hong Kong. Ms Barkman will make her Vancouver debut as the Snow Queen with Goh Ballet.
Rudy De Dios
Born in Laguna, Philippines, Rudy De Dios has danced with Ballet Manila for 12 years after graduating from the Phillippine High School for the Arts. His previous roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Don Jose in Carmen, as well as the male lead in Aramica. A dancer as well as a choreographer, Mr. De Dios won Best Modern Choreography at the 2008 NAMCYA and was a semi-finalist for the 2nd annual Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition in 2013. More recently over the summer, Mr. De Dios and fellow principal Katherine Barkman were invited to perform at the 17th annual International Ballet Festival in Riga, Latvia and at the Asian Grand Prix Winner’s Gala in Hong Kong. Mr. De Dios will be guest starring as the Snow King during this year’s rendition of The Nutcracker.
Junmark Sumaylo (Photo: Larry Salgado)
Hailing from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, Junmark Sumaylo joined Ballet Manila in April 2013 after training at the Grace and Pointes Dance Center. As a principal dancer for the company, Mr. Sumaylo has danced key roles in Swan Lake, Carmen and Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, and male leads in M.A.Z.N. and Arachnida. Mr. Sumaylo was a finalist at the 2008 NAMCYA and a semi-finalist in his division for the 2015 Asian Grand Prix. Mr. Sumaylo will be dancing as the Nutcracker Prince for Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most recognized ballets, cherished by both children and adults alike. Originally scored by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the performance debuted in 1892 and has since become a tradition for the holiday season, beloved by families around the world. Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker will be presented from December 15 to December 20 at the Centre in Downtown Vancouver, with performances featuring local and international artists.
Be sure to watch these amazing principal dancers as they mesmerize audiences with their stunning display of virtuoso dancing. Principal Dancers from the National Ballet of Canada – Guillaume Côté and Jurgita Dronina – will be dancing the roles of the Cavalier Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy alongside a cast of over 200 local dancers with accompaniment by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
Dates and Times of Performances:
December 15, 16, 19 and 20 at 7:30pm December 17 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm December 18 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm
Location:
The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts 777 Homer Street
Vancouver, BC
Tickets for this production are available now through www.ticketmaster.ca.
About Goh Ballet:
Since 1978, Vancouver, Canada has been home to the Goh Ballet, a vibrant, innovative and diverse dance organization. Under the direction of Chan Hon Goh since 2010, the organization is following the vision of its founders while expanding on current artistic aspirations. A company that pursues technical and artistic excellence while raising cultural awareness in our communities through performance productions, the Goh Ballet is synonymous with excellence, training talent and fostering the presentation of classical ballet. It provides extraordinary opportunities for dancers to reach their full potential, while contributing to the artistic well being of our city and country. At the forefront of the arts community, Goh Ballet has been invited to perform around the world, including tours to the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, France and the U.S.A.
Goh Ballet would like to thank Mr. Tobi Reyes and PortLiving for their commitment to the arts community and their generous support of Ms. Barkman, Mr. Rudy De Dios and Mr. Sumaylo during their time in Vancouver.
For more information, please visit www.GohNutcracker.com and www.gohballet.com