Choreographer brings Royal Winnipeg Ballet to Vernon stage

Vernon's Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe brings his Indigenous-led T'əl: The Wild Man of the Woods to the Vernon stage with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet on Jan. 31, paired with a performance of Carmina Burana.

Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe is bringing his work T'əl: The Wild Man of the Woods to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. He developed T'əl while Choreographer in Residence at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and worked with Elder Elsie Paul, who narrates the piece in both English and Ayajuthem. The production features an original score by Cris Derksen and costume design by Asa Benally. The presentation is a West Coast premiere and is part of VDPAC's 2025-26 SPOTLIGHT Dance Series. Key details: - T'əl: The Wild Man of the Woods was developed by Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe during his time as Choreographer in Residence at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. - Elder Elsie Paul serves as narrator and presents the story in both English and Ayajuthem. - The score is by Cris Derksen and costume design is by Asa Benally; the production includes 26 dancers. - The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will present T'əl alongside Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in a double bill for the West Coast premiere. - The performance is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. - The presentation is the second special guest production in VDPAC's 2025-26 SPOTLIGHT Dance Series. Summary: The double bill pairs a newly commissioned, Indigenous-led work with a long-standing orchestral ballet, expanding the local season's dance offerings. The next scheduled event is the West Coast premiere performance on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m., as part of VDPAC's SPOTLIGHT Dance Series.