It seems like just yesterday the Arts Umbrella Dance Company (AUDC) got back from their European tour and now Paxton Ricketts is jumping on a plane to go back to the Netherlands.

We want to congratulate Paxton on his two-year, full company contract with the Nederlands Dans Theatre II (NDT II) in Den Haag!

Paxton has been a part of the Arts Umbrella Dance community for 11 years and we’re so excited that he gets the chance to start his dance career with one of the world’s best professional companies! NDT II is known as a launching pad for talented young dancers who get to perform internationally and work with some of the world’s best choreographers.

“I am very excited, as well as nervous, to be moving to The Hague and joining such a great company,” said Paxton. “I have so much to learn. I hope to continue growing through this experience”.

Artemis Gordon, Artistic Director of Arts Umbrella Dance, adds “We are extremely proud of Paxton. It affirms what we are hearing about the work we do here: that we are producing top-level, world-class, artists.”

Fortunately, Paxton is performing with the AUDC one more time before leaving to start his international career. We can’t wait for the Season Finale performances from May 22-24 at the Vancouver Playhouse!

This year the AUDC will perform works from internationally acclaimed choreographers, such as: Crystal Pite, Gioconda Barbuto, Lesley Telford, Fernando Hernando Magadan, Iratxe Ansa, Walter Matteini and James Kudelka, all of whom typically work exclusively with professional dance companies.

The AUDC’s Season Finale is a part of Arts Umbrella’s larger Expressions Festival, which is a collection of inspired performances, showcases and exhibitions that celebrate young artists and their arts learning from the past year. Every discipline, every class and virtually every Arts Umbrella student has work represented in Expressions Festival.