As a way of giving back to the community and breaking down the barriers of what has been called an B次元官网网址榚litistB次元官网网址� sport for years, Ballet Victoria stages an early free production of their performance for seniors called Tea for Tutu.

Taking place usually a week before the actual production, the shortened show offers those who may not have a chance to enjoy the ballet regularly, a sneak peak at the show.

Paul Destropper, Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 artistic director, sees this as a way for his dancers to give back and involve the community while also allowing them another chance to practise performing B次元官网网址� which he says they canB次元官网网址檛 get enough of.

B次元官网网址淰ictoria has a large population of seniors, and at first we would go and visit them but their venue usually had low ceilings, tiny space and I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to do that,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 wanted them to see the ballet in its full form.B次元官网网址�

RELATED:

Encountering some problems when the program first started, Ballet Victoria ended up building their own stage B次元官网网址� that is wheelchair accessible with extra space for walkers B次元官网网址� and buying their own bus to help transport seniors to and from the performance.

B次元官网网址淲e have a better sound system so people can hear the music clearly without interfering with their hearing aids. We have better lights so they can see everything and they get to actually enjoy a full performance that is shortened B次元官网网址� we just do one act B次元官网网址� that way they get to enjoy beautiful dancing and meet the dancers and interact.B次元官网网址�

The Tea for Tutu performance has been going on for years but Destropper is still hesitant about advertising the event, he wants to make sure the audience is never talked down to and preserves their dignity.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes itB次元官网网址檚 kind of funny because they want to give you something and you do take it if they make a small donation because they feel like theyB次元官网网址檙e contributing something,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淔or some people giving $5 is the same as you giving $100 and you have to understand that. If you say oh itB次元官网网址檚 just $5 then youB次元官网网址檙e missing the point.B次元官网网址�

This is something Destropper believes in deeply, even writing thank you cards to every person who has donated to the ballet once a year.

B次元官网网址淪ome people think you should only do that to the people who give you more than $10,000 but sometime a nice word is a nice word,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not at the point where IB次元官网网址檓 going to run out of ink or out of time, it takes a little bit of effort and itB次元官网网址檚 worth it.B次元官网网址�

RELATED:

The program has received some funding through the City of Victoria but has absorbed most of the cost themselves, but Destropper says this is the least they can do to give back to the community.

B次元官网网址淲e do get a bit of government funding which is from everyoneB次元官网网址檚 taxes, and those seniors have paid taxes for decades, the least we can do is recognize that by giving them something back.B次元官网网址�

Working on adding a new component to the event, Destropper is starting to aim the Tea for Tutu event at CanadaB次元官网网址檚 newcomers. He says one of the best ways to welcome immigrants to Canada is by sharing culture.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 non-verbal communication and language is not an issue. They mix with local people and share an interest in the art form,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter if theyB次元官网网址檙e just smiling and enjoying it B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檝e created a bond that will speak every language.B次元官网网址�

According to Destropper, the added performance helps challenge his dancers to dissolve some of their own preconceived ideas.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had a few guys that are just so stern and opinionated and you slowly break that down because they have to do different things with different people of different ages, different ethnic groups, and they become better because of that,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭hey become more open and their dancing becomes better on top of it.B次元官网网址�

Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 latest production Alice in Wonderland hits the Royal Theatre stage on May 17 and 18. For more information or to buy tickets visit .