Two internationally renowned professional dance couples will perform Saturday at the Pacifica Ball, a ballroom and Latin dance competition expected to attract more than 400 people.
“The Pacifica Ball is the largest ballroom dancing event on south Vancouver Island,” said Jenn Jackson, an organizing member of Pacifica Ball.
“The highlight of the evening gala will be showcase performances by two professional couples from Canada.”
It will be a rare treat to watch perfomances by Anton Belyayev and Antoaneta Popova, World Cup 10-Dance winners and seven-time undefeated Canadian Standard, Latin champions, and Egor Shalvarov and Alla Profatilova, former Canadian Showdance, Smooth and Rhythm champions.
The competition features dancing by 35 couples.
The Pacifica Amateur Ball features the Senior III B.C. Closed Standard and Latin Championships as well as other amateur events sanctioned by DanceSport B.C. There are two parts: An afternoon session that starts at 1 p.m. and an evening session that commences at 6 p.m.
At the Audience’s Choice Pro/Am Showcase, the audience can cast votes on the daytime performance of students. Performances can be in any particular style or a combination of styles. The performers garnering the most votes will be invited back to perform at an evening session.
The ball is promoted and supported by volunteers of the Victoria Ballroom Dance Society, a non-profit organization.
Tickets are $55 to $90, with open seating during the day and reserved seating at the evening gala. Doors open for the evening gala at 5:45, with reception and seating at 6 p.m. Dancing runs 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas St. Tickets at Royal and McPherson box office. For information, go to pacificaball.ca.
Gardens, gowns and glamour
Visit the garden that love built and check out a metalwork exhibition inspired by a local princess at Abkhazi Garden on Saturday.
The heritage garden is hosting Spring Spectacular with a tour of the garden and information on the legacy of the Prince and Princess Abkhazi.
Attendees can enjoy afternoon tea and admire a collection of steel sculptures inspired by the glamorous Princess Peggy.
The princess lived all over the world until settling in Victoria in 1946 with her husband, an exiled Georgian prince. She was the royalty that Victoria always craved, attending balls at Government House and the Union Club functions in fabulous dresses.
These gowns, kept by the garden, inspire Bev Petow, an American/Canadian metalworking sculptor.
She is unveiling Haute Couture, a collection of steel sculptures, on the grounds of the half-hectare garden, which includes a collection of rhododendrons. The metalwork exhibition is curated and presented by Duthie Gallery.
Admission is by donation on Saturday. The Spring Spectacular runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit opens with an artist’s reception between 4:30 and 6 p.m. at the garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. The garden is open throughout the spring and summer from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, go to blog.conservancy.bc.ca.
Behold the brilliant minds of the future
Come see the best projects of scientists ages nine to 18 at the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair, Sunday and Monday.
Hosted by the Society for the advancement of Young Scientists, the fair is open to kids and young adults living on Vancouver Island. Applicants don’t need to win at a school science fair or even be enrolled in a school to qualify.
There are four grade divisions and six exhibition categories: Engineering and Computer Sciences, Life Sciences, Health Sciences, Biotechnology, Earth and Environmental and Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
The event is free to the public. Viewing runs 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday in the lobby of the Elliott Lecture Wing at the University of Victoria. An awards ceremony for winners will be held between 1:30 and 3 p.m. in room A144 of the MacLaurin Building at the university, 3800 Finnerty Rd. For details, go to web.uvic.ca/~virsf.
Lecture back by popular demand
Don’t miss out tonight on The Past is Present: Victoria’s History Seen Through Its Houses, an illustrated lecture on architectural styles in Victoria spanning more than 150 years.
Last month’s lecture at the Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum sold out, so the museum is offering another chance to experience Nick Russell’s illustrated lecture. The local author has catalogued and photographed hundreds of period gems during his 20 years in the city and will share his portfolio of pictures showcasing an eclectic range of historical residential homes.
Proceeds from the event benefit the restoration and maintenance of Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum.
Space is limited. Tickets are $10 at the door or can be reserved in advance through [email protected] or 250-598-1803. The lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. at Ross Bay Villa, 1490 Fairfield Rd.
For information, go to rossbayvilla.org.
Rock out at the alpine, bog and woodland plant sale
Browse a wide selection of alpine, bog or woodland plants at the Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine Garden Society’s annual spring show and sale on Friday and Saturday.
The two-day show, which features hundreds of native and exotic species, is juried and includes alpine and rock-garden plants arranged in pots and troughs suitable for apartment balconies. There will also be examples of crevice gardening, Bonsai, bog and woodland plants.
“The show is a fabulous introduction to the hobby,” said Pat Gordon, a member.
“It is an opportunity to see plants one might not get to see anywhere else.”
Along with show entries, there will be commercial and member plant and seed sales, displays, door prizes and refreshments. Commercial nurseries will sell plants both days, and there will be a members’ plant sale starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The society, founded in 1922, is the oldest continuously operating alpine gardening club in North America — possibly the world. Members of the club also maintain a rock garden at Beacon Hill Park, planted in 1967 as part of a centennial project. The group meets every Saturday morning to tend to the plants.
Admission is by donation. The show runs 1 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Rd.
For more information, go to virags.ca.
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