Alberta Ballet Company
| Alberta Ballet | |
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Nat Christie Centre
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| General Information | |
| Name | Alberta Ballet |
| Year founded | 1966 |
| Website | http://www.albertaballet.com/ |
| Senior Staff | |
| Director | Jean Grand-Maître |
| Artistic Staff | |
| Music Director | Peter Dala |
| Other | |
| Official School | School of Alberta Ballet |
The Alberta Ballet (also known as the Alberta Ballet Company) is located in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. It is Canada’s third largest dance company.[1]
Creation
The Alberta Ballet was founded by Dr. Ruth Carse in 1958 and became a professional company in 1966.[2]
Development
Carse directed the company until 1975.[1] She was followed by Jeremy Leslie-Spinks (1975), Brydon Paige (1976–1988), and Ali Pourfarrokh (1988–1998). During Pourfarrokh's tenure, in 1990, the company merged with the Calgary City Ballet and moved into the Nat Christie Centre in Calgary. Since then, it has performed in both Edmonton and Calgary.
Former San Francisco Ballet dancer Mikko Nissinen then directed the company until 2002. Nissinen introduced Balanchine works, while continuing to commission new works from Canadian and international choreographers. He toured the company to China, Finland, and Egypt.[1]
Jean Grand-Maître was then appointed as artistic director. Alberta Ballet continues to tour throughout North America and China.
Choreography
Artistic director Jean Grand-Maître has choreographed Carmen, which toured China, and Fiddle and the Drum, a collaboration with Joni Mitchell while at the Alberta Ballet. In the spring of 2010 the company built on its ballet and pop collaboration by staging an Elton John production named Elton:[3] Love Lies Bleeding.[4] Elton John reportedly was so moved by Fiddle and the Drum that he asked Alberta Ballet to produce a ballet for him.
Alberta Ballet was the first Canadian company to stage a ballet by Christopher Wheeldon of the New York City Ballet. Wheeldon choreographed A Midsummer Night's Dream with the company. It also commissioned two pieces from Jorma Elo, of the Boston Ballet.
Canadian choreographer Sabrina Matthews has created pieces the company as well.
2009-2010 Season
The 2009-2010 season featured the following ballets: Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Moulin Rouge: The Ballet (performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet), the World Premieres of Songs of a Wayfarer and The Seven Deadly Sins, and the World Premiere of ELTON, a new creation in collaboration with Sir Elton John.
Dancers
Company artists of the Alberta Ballet:[5]
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School of Alberta Ballet
Established in 1991, the School of Alberta Ballet is the official training centre of Alberta Ballet. It offers two divisions and multiple program choices.
The School of Alberta Ballet's curriculum based on a combination of the Vaganova System and the Cecchetti Method. It includes complementary dance forms such as modern, jazz, and character dance. The School of Alberta Ballet is committed to diversity.[clarification needed]
Murray Kilgour is the principal and Nancy Kilgour is the senior pedagogue.[6]
Former Alberta Ballet dancers
- David Adams
- Cherice Barton
- Marianne Beausejour
- Brian Bender
- Jay Brooker
- Claude Caron
- David Chipman Seibert
- Svea Ekloff
- Marc LeClerc
- Mark Mahler
- Daniel McLaren
- Barbara Moore
- Kevin Peterman
- Michel Rahn
- Yumiko Takeshima
- Greg Zane
- Jung Min Hong
- Howard Epstein
References
- ^ a b c Crabb, Michael (August 2005). "Alberta Ballet's Dramatic Moves". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ Anderson, Jack (17 October 1997). "From Alberta, a Troupe Both Lyrical and Dramatic". New York Times (New York City, United States). Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ http://www.ama.ab.ca/westworld/index.php?/articles/the_alberta_ballet_hits_the_stage_at_the_vancouver_olympics/
- ^ http://www.albertaballet.com/page/elton/1000552
- ^ "Company Artists". Alberta Ballet Company. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Senior Personnel" (Press release). School of Alberta Ballet. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
External links
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