Performing arts seem to run in the Laurent family. Keith Laurent of Vancouver is a singer-songwriter with seven albums out on his independent label, Quiet Life Productions. His son, Austin Laurent, dances with the New York City Ballet. Austin will be among the dancers featured on tonight’s installment of the Public Broadcasting Service series “Great Performances.” Austin primarily grew up in Oregon and trained at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre before moving to New York to attend the School of American Ballet.
Keith and his wife Kathy, Austin’s stepmother, plan to have friends over to watch “NY Export: Jazz Opus.” The program airs locally at 8 p.m. on OPB Channel 10, making its broadcast premiere.
The film is a scripted adaptation of director and choreographer Jerome Robbins’ 1958 “ballet in sneakers,” which used dance to tell the story of disaffected urban youths. It was shot on location around New York City and recently screened at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival, where it won the Emerging Visions audience award.
Keith Laurent, 53, who owns Vancouver-based Toile to Wall Interior Design with Kathy, has seen a trailer for “NY Export: Jazz Opus” online and is excited to watch the film in its entirety.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a really great opportunity for him.”
