Ballet Jorgen Pointe Fall 2007

FALL 2007
B.I.T.S – BALLET IN THE STUDIO
BUILD A BALLET
2007–2008 TOURING SCHEDULE
Ballet Jörgen Canada turns 20!
Ballet Jörgen Canada is proud to announce its 20th anniversary season. Since the company’s
inception in 1987 we have grown to become the fifth largest company in Canada, with a
touring schedule that reaches over 30 communities each season, and over 50,000 patrons.
With a mandate based on connecting people to ballet, the company continues to
expand its reach with several exciting new initiatives including a greater number of
performances in schools, free outdoor performances, the debut of a brand new ballet,
and the development of a strong local presence in the Halifax region.
In October, the company will present the premiere of Anastasia, a brand-new, full
length ballet. Anastasia will come to Toronto on November 3rd, and gala performance
tickets will be available, which include a pre-show backstage tour and a reception after the
ballet to celebrate the company’s anniversary. After twenty years of creating unique and
original ballets with some of the country’s most extraordinary dancers and choreographers,
we can hardly wait to see what the future will bring
Ballet in the Park
Gets Good Grades in the GTA
.
This summer, Ballet Jörgen Canada launched a new performance series in celebration of its 20th anniversary. Ballet in the Park brought
free, full scale ballet to two Toronto park locations – Etienne Brulé in the West and Earl Bales in the North. A perfect family event or an
idyllic date setting, the beauty of our Cinderella against a canopy of trees or beside a moonlight pond drew huge audiences and rave
reviews. Special children’s performances of the Emperor’s New Clothes introduced many young audience members to dance, and both ballets
drew many return visitors. Susan Walker even awarded us an A in the Toronto Star summer arts report card as one of the city’s best summer events!
Our goal is to expand this event to reach as many parks as possible in coming seasons and make Ballet in the Park part of the Ballet Jörgen Canada
regular performance itinerary
Ballet Jörgen Canada
in Halifax
The arts community in the Atlantic region
was enriched as Ballet Jörgen Canada
launched its first regional advisory board.
Ballet Jörgen Canada’s Artistic Director &
CEO Bengt Jörgen has been working for
months to increase his company’s
commitment in the local area. This work
culminated on August 21st at the Halifax
Marriott Harbourfront with the inaugural
meeting of the Atlantic Regional Advisory
Board for Ballet Jörgen Canada which
comprises a host of local community
members, all of whom are committed to
supporting dance and the performing arts in
the region.
Local board chair Patricia Parsons, a
Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University
and long-time dance supporter in Halifax,
says, “One of the things that particularly
captured me about this opportunity was the
chance to be a part of taking this venerable
art form to groups of children, most of whom
would never have the opportunity to be
exposed to it.” According to Parsons the
company will be working in collaboration
with the regional dance community to bring
the enrichment of ballet to Halifax and the
Atlantic region.
Other members of the inaugural Board
include Irish dancer Lauren Brown of
CIBC/Halifax, commercial real estate broker
Tim Margolian, President of JJ Barnicke
(Atlantic) and former President of the board
at Neptune Theatre, dancer/jeweler Candice
Prior, former ballet dancer Leila Kovacevic, a
real estate agent with Re/Max Nova, and Dr.
Jim Smith,Vice President of Corporate Affairs
at MedMira Laboratories.
The main responsibility of the Advisory
Board will be to provide advice to Ballet
Jörgen Canada on potential performance
and educational opportunities in the region
and to provide a liaison with the local
community.
Autumn Highlights for George Brown Dance
George Brown Dance welcomes fall with the
announcement of several popular workshops,
and exciting student performance news!
On September 29th the Commercial
Dance Studies Students performed in Sight
and Sound at George Brown College, part of
the Scotia Bank Nuit Blanche Festival.
The Commercial Dance Studies
Showcase will be held on December 7 & 8,
2007 at 8:00pm. This year will be a cabaretstyle evening of entertainment at the Toronto
Centre for the Arts Studio Theatre featuring
dynamic performances by the 14 graduating
students of the Commercial Dance Studies
program.
The Student for a Day Workshop is a
chance to experience the life of a student at
TORONTO
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sunday, February 17, 2008
10:00am – 3:30pm
George Brown Dance
George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus
160 Kendal Ave, Studio C, Room C129
Toronto ON
George Brown Dance. Attendees are invited
to take classes in ballet, modern, and jazz, and
to speak with current GBD students. This
series is offered in Toronto and Halifax, and is
highly recommended for anyone considering
dance study at the post-secondary level.
HALIFAX
Sunday, November 4, 2007
10:00am – 3:30pm
Halifax Dance, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington St
Halifax NS
$60 (lunch included)
$60 per workshop (lunch included)
$110 when both October & February
Workshops are booked together
Young Dancer’s Workshop
A WORKSHOP ESPECIALLY FOR DANCERS 10 – 14!
This full-day workshop includes classes in Ballet, Jazz and Modern Dance, taught by
Ballet Jörgen Canada/George Brown Dance’s instructors!
TORONTO
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sunday, February 17, 2008
10:00am – 3:30pm
Ballet Jörgen Canada Studios
George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus
160 Kendal Ave, Room C126
Toronto ON
$60 per student (lunch included)
$110 when both October & February
Workshops are booked together
For more information on any of our workshops, please contact Artistic Coordinator, George Brown
Dance, Christine Heath at 416-415-5000 x2196 or [email protected]
Space is Limited. Advance Registration Required!
Build a Ballet
INSIDE THE WORLD OF
BALLET JÖRGEN CANADA’S ANASTASIA
As the October premiere of Anastasia
approaches, we thought we’d give you a look at
the behind the scenes process of building a
ballet. Anastasia is Ballet Jörgen Canada’s largest
undertaking to-date, and requires a skilled team
of professionals to bring all of the various
creative elements together. Our creative team
has been generous enough to allow us access to
their work-in-progress, and the entire story will
unfold on our website at www.balletjorgen.ca
A Few Words with Ivan Barbotin
Ballet Jörgen Canada
in Russia
Early in September, Bengt Jörgen, Artistic
Director of Ballet Jörgen Canada traveled to
Moscow to record the score for Anastasia.
Working very closely with composer Ivan
Barbotin and conductor Konstantin D. Krimets,
he oversaw the session with the acclaimed
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. Originally
formed as a recording ensemble, The Russian
Philharmonic Orchestra has gone on to receive
high acclaim for its concert performances.
Firmly rooted in Russia’s rich musical traditions,
the orchestra draws its musicians from the
highest ranks of Russia’s most famous orchestras
such as the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra,
the Russian National Orchestra and the State
Symphony Orchestra.
Ivan Barbotin is a Russian born composer who
immigrated to Canada at the age of 18. He
graduated from the University of Toronto in
1997 and received a BA with distinction in
Languages and Linguistics. Ivan began piano
studies at the age of five, and took up guitar at
age ten. During his formative years (ages 1318) he played in two bands as lead guitarist. His
first stint was with the group “Sphinx” which
won accolades at the Orlenok summer youth
camp, and then he went on to enjoy a rock star
life-style with “Forum”, a band with a huge fan
base and songs that are popular in Russia to
this day. Classical composition studies began
at 15 with composer Alim Ametov. Ivan, or
“Vanya” as he is called by his friends and close
colleagues, has created two other ballets for
Ballet Jörgen Canada: The Velveteen Rabbit,
and The Emperor’s New Clothes. He spends his
time between two homes, one in Toronto and
one in Luxembourg.
BJC: Describe the physical space that you work
from.
IB: Usually, that would be my studio in
Luxembourg. It’s very peaceful there, other
than the ducks on the river getting loud and
out of control now and then. Also, the studio
faces the remains of a 1000 year old fortress. It’s
a beautiful site. Right now though, there’s no
ducks or fortresses, (Ivan was in Toronto during
the interview) just roofs of high-rise buildings,
helicopters flying just above and lots of police
sirens. Classic downtown Toronto. I really like
the buzz of this town.
BJC: Which composers have most inspired
you?
IB: Bach, Chopin, Stravinsky.
BJC: If we stole your ipod, or broke into your
car, what would we catch you listening to right
now?
IB: Sigur Ros, a great rock band out of Iceland.
BJC: Besides the choreographer’s synopsis,
where do you draw inspiration from when
composing a score?
IB: The best way to come up with a piece of
music for me is to start improvising. When I sit
down to work on a scene, I try to put on the
shoes of the character being depicted at the
point in the ballet and start playing whatever
comes to mind on the piano or guitar.
Something eventually comes out of that, be it
a particular melody, a harmony, a rhythm or
some combination of the above.
BJC:Which aspects of Anastasia’s story move
you the most?
IB: The savagery with which the
revolutionaries took and kept power is nothing
short of demonic. Their treatment of the
Romanov family, including Anastasia, is the
ultimate example of that.
B.I.T.S
Ballet in the Studio
Wednesday October 3, 2007
Excerpts from Anastasia
Join Ballet Jörgen Canada as select scenes from
the company’s latest creation are unveiled!
Presenting our Fall / Winter
Performance Schedule
October 2007
March 2008
3
1
23
Thursday November 22, 2007
Excerpts from The Nutcracker
Celebrate the season with a winter classic that
the entire family will enjoy!
27
Ballet in the Studio
Ballet Jörgen Canada Studios
Toronto, ON
Anastasia
The Savoy Theatre Glace Bay, NS
Anastasia
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
Halifax, NS
November 2007
1
Wednesday February 13, 2008
Excerpts from Original Dance
Dazzling choreography by Mavin Khoo marries
classical Indian and contemporary dance in a
partnership with Ballet Jörgen Canada and
Sampradaya Dance Creations.
6:30 – 7:15 Light Dinner
7:15 – 8:15 Performance
8:15 Coffee and Dessert
Meet the dancers after the performance
for an artists’ chat.
Ballet Jörgen Canada Studios
George Brown College
Casa Loma Campus
160 Kendal Ave, Building C, Room 126
$25.00 per performance. Space is limited.
To book tickets, call Ballet Jörgen Canada at
416-961-4725 or email [email protected]
Special Free Performances for
George Brown College Students and Staff
Thursday October 4, 12:00pm
Anastasia Excerpts
Friday November 23, 12:00pm
Nutcracker Excerpts
Thursday February 14, 12:00pm
Original Dance Excerpts
A valid student or staff ID card must be presented
when picking up tickets.
The Emperor's New Clothes
The Sanderson Centre Brantford, ON
3
Anastasia
The Toronto Centre for the Arts
Toronto, ON
9
Anastasia
Centrepointe Theatre Ottawa, ON
22
Ballet in the Studio
Ballet Jörgen Canada Studios
Toronto, ON
27
The Nutcracker
The Chrysler Theatre Windsor, ON
29-30 The Nutcracker
The River Run Centre Guelph, ON
December 2007
7-8
The Nutcracker
The Living Arts Centre Mississauga, ON
12
The Nutcracker
Showplace Performance Centre
Peterborough, ON
14-16 The Nutcracker
Centrepointe Theatre Ottawa, ON
18
The Nutcracker
The Sanderson Centre Brantford, ON
21-22 The Nutcracker
The Rose Theatre Brampton, ON
28
The Nutcracker
Centre in the Square Kitchener, ON
29-30 The Nutcracker
Markham Theatre Markham, ON
January 2008
Anastasia
Centre in the Square Kitchener, ON
8
Anastasia
Centennial Theatre
North Vancouver, BC
11
Anastasia
Artspring Saltspring Island, BC
15
Anastasia
The McPherson Playhouse Victoria, BC
17-18 Anastasia
Vernon Performing Arts Centre
Vernon, BC
27
Anastasia
Maclab Theatre - The Citadel Leduc, AB
29
Anastasia
The Banff Centre Banff, AB
April 2008
1
3
6
8
10
12
16
19
23
27
30
28-31 The Emperor's New Clothes
The River Run Centre Guelph, ON
February 2008
3
10
13
16
The Emperor's New Clothes
The River Run Centre Guelph, ON
Anastasia
Grant Hall, Queen’s University
Kingston, ON
Ballet in the Studio
Ballet Jörgen Canada Studios
Toronto, ON
Anastasia
Markham Theatre Markham, ON
Anastasia
Keyano College Fort McMurray, AB
Anastasia
Vic Juba Centre Lloydminster, AB
Anastasia
Shell Theatre - Dow Centre
Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Anastasia
Anne Portnuff Theatre Yorkton, SK
Anastasia
P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall
Winkler, MB
Anastasia
Dryden Cultural Centre Dryden, ON
Anastasia
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Thunder Bay, ON
Anastasia
Kiwanis Community Centre
Sault Ste Marie, ON
Anastasia
Imperial Oil Centre Sarnia, ON
Anastasia
Imperial Theatre St. John, NB
Anastasia
The Fredericton Playhouse
Fredericton, NB
May 2008
2
4
Anastasia
Confederation Centre of the Arts
Charlottetown, PE
Anastasia
SAERC Auditorium Port Hawkesbury, NS
Performance schedule is subject to change.
For our full performance schedule, visit
www.balletjorgen.ca
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comments or suggestions, please email
[email protected] or call 416-415-5000 x 2035
Ballet Jörgen Canada
213 Glebeholme Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario M4J 1S8
www.balletjorgen.ca
[email protected]
POINTE is a publication of Ballet Jörgen Canada