Tours en l'air organizes ballet-themed escorted holidays to see the best companies perform great ballets in beautiful places. You can join a trip from anywhere. A highly knowledgeable balletomane who has enjoyed 100s of performances in over 20 cities around the world,I speak English, French, and German, and am a Travel Industry Council of Ontario certified Travel Counsellor. I also teach ballet appreciation courses.
For a taste of what our trips are like, follow https://www.facebook.com/toursenlair/ on facebook.
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, 101 - 8800 Dufferin Street, Concord, ON L4K 0C5, 416-736-6010, TICO # 1892647

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

May 2018 New York ballet trip: Robbins Festival



Tours en l'air is planning a ballet-intensive trip to New York in May. Itinerary and ESTIMATED package price below. To be placed on the priority notification list when booking opens in February (no commitment required at this point), email: toursenlair@gmail.com

Presented in partnership with Carlson Wagonlit Victor Travel

101 - 8800 Dufferin Street, Concord, ON L4K 0C5

TICO Ontario registration #1892647



escorted by

Canada's Word Lady,

Katherine Barber



presents



Ballet in New York:

Jerome Robbins

100th Anniversary Festival

17 – 20 May, 2018

4 days, 3 nights

5 ballet performances by two major ballet companies



BALLET-LOVERS' BUCKET LIST:

New York City Ballet performing their signature Jerome Robbins repertoire
 

DRAFT ITINERARY
BOOKING WILL OPEN IN FEBRUARY



Thursday May 17

Arrive New York. Check in to 4-star Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan Central Park, 8-minute walk from Lincoln Center. Evening: Meet a New York City Ballet dancer who will give us a private guided tour of “the house that Balanchine built”, the David H. Koch Theatre. Pre-performance talk, then New York City Ballet: All-Robbins: Interplay, In the Night, The Cage, Other Dances, Fanfare. Beginning with the lighthearted competition of a jazz-infused work, this colorful experience includes two of Robbins’ touchingly dramatic piano ballets and a plunge into the feral world of natural selection before concluding with a tour of the orchestra where dancers personify various instruments to illuminate a musical composition.



Friday May 18

Day at leisure. Evening: American Ballet Theatre performance: Giselle. 




Saturday May 19

Morning at leisure. Afternoon: Pre-performance talk followed by New York City Ballet: All-Robbins: In G Major, Afternoon of a Faun, Antique Epigraphs, The Concert. Playful jazz accents suggest a chic Riviera setting, a chance encounter in a ballet studio captures two young dancers in a subtle and sensual pas de deux, and the sculptural forms of Greek antiquity inspire earthy fervour. A one-of-a-kind comedic ballet concludes the program, portraying a cast of quirky characters at a piano recital and their laugh-out-loud antics. This performance includes a See the Music segment. The conductor will discuss the score for The Concert through an orchestra demonstration before the ballet is performed. 

 

Evening: New York City Ballet: All-Robbins: Opus 19/The Dreamer, Dances at a Gathering, Glass Pieces. Three of Robbins’ most celebrated ballets unite to demonstrate his keen musical insight. Prokofiev’s feverish concerto sends a male protagonist on a dreamlike search for an ethereal counterpart, and Chopin’s piano works allow the spectrum of human interaction to be distilled into the most natural of movements. Seizing upon more modern styles, Philip Glass’s minimalism mimics the pulsating heartbeat of metropolitan life in charged, urban choreography.



Sunday May 20

Morning: check out of hotel. Midday: New York City Ballet wardrobe tour, followed by a private talk with an NYCB orchestra musician. New York City Ballet: All-Robbins Bernstein Collaborations. Two American masters converge in these high-energy story ballets. Fancy Free follows three soldiers on shore leave in the Big City, while Dybbuk delves into a mystical world with dreadful consequences. Renewing their international hit, West Side Story Suite brings audiences to the feuding streets of 1950s New York City with heart-rending poignancy.



Optional 1-day pre-extension



Wednesday 16 May

Check in to 4-star Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan Central Park, 8-minute walk from Lincoln Center. Evening: Pre-performance talk, then New York City Ballet: All-Robbins: Goldberg Variations, Les Noces. Robbins pays homage to two epic compositions with his grand vision and unceasing invention.The Goldberg Variations unifies the traditions of classical and modern movement in one monumental ballet to Bach’s epic score, and Les Noces finds its roots in primitive Russian folk themes, depicting a highly ritualized wedding with a full choir and four pianos onstage. (Category B ticket only).

Extra hotel nights before or after the package may be added on subject to availability.

GROUP SIZE LIMITED TO 20!

Basic Package includes:

3 nights double-share accommodation

Daily hot and cold breakfast buffet

Category B seats for 5 performances

Free wifi in hotel

Ballet enrichment program: 
Private guided tour of theatre with a New York City Ballet dancer
Private talk with a New York City Ballet orchestra musician
Private tour of the New York City Ballet wardrobe led by a wardrobe staff member
Ballet notes



Not included:

Airfare

Meals and transfers

Items of a personal nature, e.g. phone calls

Cancellation insurance and hospital/medical insurance



ESTIMATED Total Package Price



CA$2300 per person

based on double occupancy, 
Category “B” seats

(front side orchestra)



OPTIONAL UPGRADE:
CA$2775 per person

based on double occupancy, 
Category “A” seats

(front centre orchestra) for

New York City Ballet performances, 
Category “B” seats

(front side orchestra) for

American Ballet Theatre performance



Single supplement: CA$570



Optional 1-night pre-extension (May 16)

double occupancy: CA$500 per person

single supplement: CA$220 

All prices are in Canadian dollars. 
As of the exchange rate on January 26th, 2018,  
approximate equivalent in $US is 
Basic package, double occupancy: US$1850
single supplement: US$460
Actual price will depend on exchange rate on date payment is processed and any credit card fees.

You may use RBC reward points or RBC certificates towards the purchase of any or all components of these arrangements



LAND-ONLY PACKAGE allows you the flexibility of arranging travel from your most convenient departure point,

on the dates and times you prefer,

and to extend your stay if you wish.

Victor Travel's experienced agents

will be happy to assist you with

flight arrangements.




For more information about this trip, and to be placed on the priority notification list when booking opens in February, contact Katherine Barber:

email: toursenlair@gmail.com


phone: 416.693.4496






Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here



Katherine Barber
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays
email: toursenlair@gmail.com
201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496
BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER
GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647




Thursday, January 25, 2018

Cinema broadcasts of English National Ballet's Giselle

https://youtu.be/zfSL2xOoYzc 


Hailed as a masterpiece of 21st century dance, Akram Khan’s Giselle comes to cinemas in England and Scotland for the first time with English National Ballet Artistic Director, Tamara Rojo, dancing the role of Giselle, one of a community of migrant workers cast out of their jobs in a condemned garment factory.

The classic story of love, betrayal and redemption has been reimagined in this stunning new version, with sets and costumes by Academy-Award winning designer Tim Yip (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), an ‘ominous, gothic’ (The Observer) adaptation of Adolphe Adam’s original score by composer Vincenzo Lamagna and performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic, dramaturgy from Ruth Little and lighting design from Tony Award-winner Mark Henderson.

Filmed live at the Liverpool Empire in October 2017, Akram Khan’s Giselle is directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon.

For dates and locations, click here

Synopsis

Act I
Giselle is one of a community of migrant garment factory workers (the Outcasts). Dispossessed of their jobs by the factory’s closure, and separated by a high wall from their hopes of livelihood and security, the Outcasts function as little more than exotic entertainment for the factory Landlords.
In Act I, the wealthy Albrecht disguises himself as an Outcast in order to visit his lover Giselle. But his presence is noted by Hilarion – Giselle’s would-be lover – a shape-changing ‘fixer’ who trades with and mimics the Landlords for his own and his community’s profit.

Albrecht’s wooing of Giselle is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of the Landlords. Seeing his fiancée Bathilde among them, Albrecht tries to hide. Giselle recognizes the fine dress worn by Bathilde as the product of her own factory labour. The Outcasts dance for the Landlords until Albrecht and Hilarion disturb the Ceremony with their conflict.


Bathilde’s father confronts Albrecht, forcing him to return to Bathilde and to their world. When he submits and returns to Bathilde, Giselle is driven mad with grief. The Landlord gives a command, and the Outcasts encircle Giselle. When the crowd disperses, her lifeless body is revealed. Denying any responsibility, the Landlords retreat beneath the Wall.

Act II
A wrecked, abandoned ‘ghost’ factory is revealed – a place where Giselle and her female co-workers have labored, and many have died. Here Albrecht, grieving for Giselle, confronts and condemns the Landlords.
Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis (ghosts of factory workers who seek revenge for the wrongs done to them in life), enters, driving Albrecht away. She summons Giselle from her lifeless body into the realm of death, to join the company of the remorseless Wilis.

Hilarion enters to mourn at Giselle’s grave. The Wilis surround him, demanding retribution for Giselle’s death, and Hilarion is brutally killed.

Albrecht returns and becomes aware of Giselle’s presence. The lovers are reunited on the threshold between life and death. Breaking the cycle of violence – and defying Myrtha’s command – Giselle forgives Albrecht and releases him into life.

The Wilis depart with Giselle, and Albrecht, now an outcast from his own community, is left alone by the Wall.

PRINCIPAL CAST

Tamara Rojo

Giselle

James Streeter

Albrecht

Jeffrey Cirio

Hilarion

Stina Quagebeur

Myrtha

You can see English National Ballet live in Kenneth MacMillan's The Sleeping Beauty as part of Tours en l'air's trip to London in June 2018. More information here:
http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2018/01/ballet-trip-to-london-june-2018.html

Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here



Katherine Barber
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays
email: toursenlair@gmail.com
201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496
BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Casting & Dates: Bolshoi Cinema relay Lady of the Camellias

https://youtu.be/gjAkZKMdSvo


Casting for the February broadcasts from the Bolshoi of John Neumeier's magnificent ballet The Lady of  the Camellias (a repeat broadcast from December 2015):
February 4 in most locations, February 11 in Canada. 

For locations outside Canada click here.
For locations in Canada click here


Marguerite Gautier Svetlana Zakharova
Armand Duval Edvin Revazov (guesting from Hamburg Ballet)
Manon Lescaut Anna Tikhomirova
Des Grieux Semyon Chudin
Prudence Duvernoy Kristina Kretova
Gaston Rieux Mikhail Lobukhin
Nanina Anna Antropova
Monsieur Duval Andrei Merkuriev
Olympia Daria Khokhlova
The Duke Alexander Fadeyechev
Count N. Vyacheslav Lopatin

Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here



Katherine Barber
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays
email: toursenlair@gmail.com
201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496
BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Ballet Trip to London June 2018





Tours en l'air is currently looking into offering a short ballet-intensive trip to London in June.  Below is a DRAFT itinerary. My current BALLPARK estimate for the price would be about $4000 (Canadian $), (approximately US$3300) sharing a double or twin room in a 4-star West End hotel. Guaranteed single occupancy would be extra. 

At this point, I am asking for expressions of interest without a commitment. If 20 people express an interest, that suggests I would be able to reach my minimum of 9 actually signing up.

If preliminary expressions of interest suggest that the trip will be viable, booking will open in March, when the Royal Ballet confirms ticket availability. 

Please email toursenlair@gmail.com if you are interested in this trip.

June 10 - 16 (7 days, 5 performances)

(All performances in London)

June 11: English National Ballet Emerging Dancer Competition

Selected by their peers, six of ENB's most promising dancers perform in front of an eminent panel of expert judges, before one receives the 2018 Emerging Dancer Award. This inspiring evening is a fantastic opportunity to watch these rising stars flourish, and witness how far their dedication has taken them:
Precious Adams, Fernando Carratalá Coloma, Giorgio Garrett, Daniel McCormick, Francesca Velicu and Connie Vowles

June 12: Royal Ballet: Swan Lake (new staging by Liam Scarlett)
For more on this, click here.

June 13: Birmingham Royal Ballet: Romeo and Juliet (MacMillan)

https://youtu.be/D0TS7q9w-68


June 14: English National Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty (MacMillan)

https://youtu.be/LLMRckxRqqE



June 15: Birmingham Royal Ballet Mixed Program: In the Upper Room (Tharp), Kin. (Whitley), World Premiere (Williamson)




A backstage tour of the Royal Opera House would be included, as would a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum Dance collection (to be confirmed).

I would also offer an optional day trip to Oxford.

What else is on in London that week?

 
Monet & Architecture at the National Gallery

See the ‘Father of Impressionism’ in an entirely new way, in the first exhibition devoted to Monet’s relationship with architecture
Comprising more than seventy paintings by the artist, ‘Monet & Architecture’ spans Claude Monet’s long career from its beginnings in the mid-1860s to the public display of his Venice paintings in 1912.
From his compositions of villages and picturesque settings, through his exploration of the modern city, and ultimately ending with his monumental series of works portraying Rouen Cathedral, ‘Monet & Architecture’ features exceptional loans from public and private collections around the world.



Picasso 1932 – Love, Fame, Tragedy at Tate Modern



Embark on a month-by-month journey through 1932, a pivotal moment in which Picasso completed many of his most famous works and gained international status as the most influential artist of the time.
Highlights of the exhibition include three astounding paintings featuring the artist’s lover Marie-Thérèse Walter. Made over the course of only five days, these portraits have never been displayed together since they were created in 1932.




Open Garden Squares Weekend June 9 and 10

More than 200 London gardens, from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental, are opened up to the public for one weekend every year. Venture into private gardens, roof gardens and community allotments, as well as gardens belonging to historic buildings, museums, churches and universities.
Many public gardens also take part in this event. These usually provide guided walks, music, family entertainment, art activities and food and drink stalls over the two days.

Photo of St Paul's Cathedral by Jacob Hilton on Unsplash


Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here



Katherine Barber
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays
email: toursenlair@gmail.com
201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496
BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647


Monday, January 22, 2018

Latest Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays newsletter

Click here.

Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here



Katherine Barber
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays
email: toursenlair@gmail.com
201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496
BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Comedy in Ballet Talk in Ottawa


Ballet Laughs: The Surprising Comic Side of a Classical Art
Lecturer: Katherine Barber

Romance, escapism, beauty, athleticism – those are ballet’s acknowledged fortes. But comedy? Surprisingly, there are more hilarious moments in ballet than you might expect. Discover what you don’t know you’re missing.

Visual presentation and film clips

  • Day: Thursday, May 10th, 2018
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: Room 124, Leeds House Building, Carleton University
  • Fee: $30.00 (HST included)
  • Enrollment capacity: 55 participants
PARKING FEES:

Carleton University parking passes are available for purchase at the time of registration. The parking pass fees (including HST) are $6.00 for each one time evening lecture held on campus.



REGISTRATION:

Registration begins on Tuesday, January 30th, at 9:00 a.m.


Online registration form will be available on Tuesday, January 30th at 9:00 a.m., and can be accessed using the following link: carleton.ca/linr/online-registration/. You can also send your registration via e-mail or leave a telephone message at or after 9:00 a.m. Please note that any registrations received prior to 9:00 a.m. on January 30th will not be considered.

 

Additional registration details can be found on the website: carleton.ca/linr/registration/.

Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here



Katherine Barber
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays
email: toursenlair@gmail.com
201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496
BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647