TODAY'S BALLET…
BE MOVED. DIFFERENTLY! Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal is dedicated to bringing ballet in all its forms to audiences everywhere. Since Gradimir Pankov took the helm as artistic director in 2000, the company has continually stimulated, amazed and moved audiences with its deep passion for dance. Utterly devoted to his art, Pankov has focused his energies on staging original works. In just a few years he has commissioned memorable, eloquent ballets like The Queen of Spades, Noces, The Lost Shoe (Cinderella), TooT, and most recently, La Bête et la Belle.
This 2006-2007 season marks the 50th anniversary of Les Grands Ballets. Since its founding by Ludmilla Chiriaeff in 1957, the company has presented a wide variety of ballets ranging from the great classics to groundbreaking 20th century works by Balanchine, Jooss, Nijinsky, and many others. It has fostered the emergence of artists who went on to international renown, like Fernand Nault, James Kudelka, Édouard Lock and Ginette Laurin. Les Grands Ballets also stands out for presenting the works of up-and-coming choreographers like Kim Brandstrup, Stijn Celis and Didy Veldman. As well, the company has collaborated with today's top choreographers, including Ji_í Kylián, Mats Ek, Nacho Duato and Ohad Naharin. They all love working with Les Grands Ballets, thanks to the talent and calibre of the company's dancers.
Each year, in addition to four productions by Les Grands Ballets, audiences can enjoy performances by guest companies that are among the best on international scene today. Visiting companies included Sweden's Cullberg Ballet, Spain's Compañía Nacional de Danza, Poland's Warsaw Ballet, Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Shen Wei Dance Arts from New York City, and Ballet de l'Opéra de Lyon, to name but a few. This anniversary season, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet paid Montréal another visit and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater made a long-awaited return - the latest examples of Les Grands Ballets's dedication to broadening the range of ballet it brings to its audiences.
Dance knows no boundaries. That's why Les Grands Ballets also tours the world. Public and critical acclaim in Germany, Spain, Italy, Mexico and New York City, as well as at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival (U.S.), where the company appeared for two consecutive seasons, have bolstered its international profile and generated more invitations. Every other year, Les Grands Ballets tours either the U.S. or Europe. Highlights of the 2006-2007 season include Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and various Californian cities.
Today's Les Grands Ballets defines daring. The company wants people to Be moved. Differently. Les Grands Ballets offers an alternative vision of the world through an art form it holds dear: one that is more emotional, theatrical, accessible, exciting, and - hopefully - more entertaining than ever.
