Breakin' Classical

Gordon Gerrard, conductor
FLY Dance Company, dancers
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Gordon Gerrard is among the exciting new generation of music directors demonstrating new visions for orchestral leadership in Canada. Currently in his sixth season leading the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Gordon has distinguished himself as a leader in innovative and inclusionary programming. Trained first as a pianist and subsequently as a specialist in operatic repertoire, he brings a fresh perspective to the podium that endears him to audiences and musicians alike. After an international search, Gordon was appointed Music Director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra where he has taken bold steps reimagining the orchestra’s programming, including its Forward Currents Festival dedicated to social change and community engagement.

He has held the posts of Associate Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Resident Conductor of Calgary Opera. He has returned to Calgary Opera to lead productions of La Bohème, Roméo et Juliette, Die Fledermaus, Lakmé and the Canadian premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women, which was recorded for national broadcast on CBC’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera. Gordon made his debut with Edmonton Opera leading the western Canadian premiere of Rossini’s Le Comte Ory.

Gordon has made appearances with many of Canada’s leading orchestras, including Toronto, Québec, Kitchener-Waterloo and Victoria. He has worked regularly with the National Ballet of Canada, and in 2016, he made his European debut at Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsburg in Germany.

Gordon is a passionate and gifted educator. He demonstrates his commitment to education through his regular work with the young artists at Calgary Opera, the Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and has spent many seasons working with students at the Banff Centre, Opera Nuova (Edmonton), UBC Opera (Vancouver), Opera McGill (Montréal) and the Glenn Gould School (Toronto).

Based in Houston, FLY Dance Company offers entertaining, clean-cut, fun concert performances as well as educational shows, workshops, and residencies available for booking locally, nationally, and internationally throughout the year. Entertainment is custom-made from FLY’s extensive repertory. FLY offers fun, fast-action, educational shows scripted and designed to deliver entertainment, knowledge, and important social messages to school-aged audiences.

FLY’s performance style is called theatrical hip hop — “theatrical” in that acting is an essential element of the style. FLY’s performing repertory is varied musically and choreographically and its dancers are skilled and highly adaptable. Performances can vary in length and cast size with performing fees adjusted accordingly.

Concert offerings include “FLY in Concert”, “Classical FLY”, and Breakin’ Classical for performing arts presenters.

The first two are available as full-length or mini-concerts and are adaptable for college student activities, and youth concerts. Special events custom-made from FLY’s extensive repertory. FLY offers fun, fast-action, educational shows scripted and designed to deliver entertainment, knowledge, and important social messages to school-aged audiences.

This is a new, expanded FLY Dance Company infused with the FLY Dance Company style and traditions from its 2000-2006 era. (See FLY History.) It is owned and operated by its core members Jorge Casco, Chris Cortez, and Adam Quiroz.

Kathy Musick Wood, FLY’s original creator and creator of the theatrical hip hop style, is back as Artistic Director and Choreographer and is adding new powerful concert pieces to the classic FLY repertory.