LA TRAVITA
Presented by Opera Kelowna
August 22 & 23, 2025
The Okanagan Ballet Theatre is pleased to announce that they will be guesting in Opera Kelowna’s “LA TRAVITA” this August. Featuring Choreography by OBT’s Artistic Director, Tanya Vadurova.
Tickets and more details are available now at operakelowna.com!
Few operas capture the beauty and heartbreak of love like La Traviata. Giuseppe Verdi and Francisco Maria Piave’s operatic masterpiece tells the story of Violetta Valéry, a celebrated French courtesan who dares to follow her heart despite the weight of society’s expectations and the fragile state of her own health. The opera is inspired by Alexandre Dumas fils’ The Lady of the Camellias, which was also the source text for the 2001 Baz Luhrman film Moulin Rouge!.
Opera Kelowna’s production is set in the glamour and excitement of 1920s Paris, wherein a youthful generation revels in a liberated lifestyle, making waves against traditional norms. Against this backdrop, Violetta takes a chance on love and pursues a life with the young Alfredo Germont. Verdi’s masterful score moves between vivacious parties and deeply personal moments, balancing carefully between hope and heartbreak.
Each year, Opera Kelowna is proud to team up with a number of exceptional creative forces from the Okanagan. This year, our Mainstage production will feature astonishing dance choreography from the mind of celebrated choreographer, teacher, and dancer Tanya Vadurova.
Vadurova’s work fosters not only technical excellence and artistry, but also the value of community and personal growth, earning her two Okanagan Arts Awards.Tanya Vadurova, as a young girl, received a bursary to train at the National Ballet School in Toronto. After her University studies, she returned to the same prestigious ballet school to train as a teacher and post graduate dance student. As a professional dancer and soloist in Europe, Tanya danced a variety of styles, ranging from classical to musical theatre. In 1997, while living back in Toronto, she was featured in the documentary film Fringe Bound that aired on the CBC & CHUM TV/BRAVO!
In February of 2008, Tanya received the Okanagan Arts Award for dance and also her company was asked to perform the finale. In 2010, Tanya was once again honoured with the Okanagan Arts Award.
Now residing in Kelowna, Tanya successfully coaches young and mature
dancers at Mission Dance Centre & Company, in hopes of assisting the next generations of dancers to achieve their goals. Since she founded the school in 2003, Tanya has produced a myriad of events, performances and full length productions for the Okanagan and its residents.
It is because of Tanya Vadurova’s own professional training and experiences that she can teach and encourage others to follow their dream. Her years of hard work and too often, struggling to make a living with becoming a professional dancer has taught her how to lead and help others to overcome their own hurdles on their journey. Tanya Vadurova provides leadership, understanding, compassion, and inspiration to students and professionals alike who seek her out.
The creative team behind La Traviata has been working closely with Tanya to develop the exceptional flamenco dance scenes that will feature prominently in the show. We recently reached out to Tanya to learn more about her experiences working on the production:
“My work with the fun and highly masterful director, Brian Deedrick, and the always artistically “en pointe” Rosemary Thomson, is a highlight for artistic me! I have always been a passionate dance artist since I can remember, trained primarily in classical ballet and raised on classical music daily for my training with a live pianist, I got spoiled at the National Ballet School in Toronto as a little girl with the experience of another human artist shaping my young and eager artistic soul and mind. Hearing the live vibrant voices and the excellent musical accompaniment in the La Traviata rehearsals has made me feel like I am exactly there where I love to be: there where creation of wonderful art is taking place and sharing the inspiration that this can bring to all who experience it. I can honestly say that I am having so much fun working with the cast and all who my path has crossed in this production of La Traviata.
In 2024, Tanya jumped in last minute to support Opera Kelowna’s production of Pagliacci & Gianni Schicchi with her exceptional dance, taking over just before opening night in place of a cast member who had unforutnately fallen ill.
I have an appreciation for when I am “called” to meaningful collaborations and productions such as this one. What a treat for any artist to be in the presence of Rosemary and Brian who both give of themselves more than 100% and I recognize this quality as I believe you cannot do true art any other way… it is hard for me not to go full out, at full throttle, when I am answering the call to my mission in life; dance and making the world a better place because of it and answering to the needs of the dance community in Canada. Since the creation of my dance school Mission Dance Centre & Co and now the founding of Okanagan Ballet Theatre, I have always worked overtime in creating not only excellence but also nurturing the atmosphere of kindness and respect within our training and work atmosphere. This is why I am so honoured to work alongside Brian and Rosemary and all the amazing singing artists, staff, and volunteers of this production who bring this warmth and love to the workspace. It is hard enough to thrive as an artist in this, too often, physically driven and tangible world therefore it is always a breath of fresh air when a work atmosphere is pleasant and kind as we all aspire to bring the intangible to our audiences… all that the soul can feel as meaningful and elating.”