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For Immediate Release
June 30, 2016

[Toronto, ON – 30 July 2016] Canada’s Ballet Jörgen announces its 2016/2017 season featuring the return of Bengt Jörgen’s celebrated production of Swan Lake, the uniquely Canadian holiday classic The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, and other Canadian ballets.

The coast-to-coast tour will run from September 2016 to April 2017 and will include 40 stops in both small centres and major cities across Canada, as well as one stop in the United States. The tour will also focus on strengthening the company’s values of accessibility and community engagement by offering multiple educational workshops, a local dance participant program, and affordable ticket pricing for dance lovers of all ages.

Swan Lake

Choreographed by company Artistic Director and CEO Bengt Jörgen, this classical ballet showcases the extraordinary beauty of traditional ballet in its purest form. Adding his signature hint of Canadiana, Jörgen has set his production in the picturesque seascape of the Louisbourg Fortress in Nova Scotia, engaging audiences in a dialogue about national identity.

Company members will dance to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s famous score in lavish 17th century inspired costumes by acclaimed designer and Order of Canada member Robert Doyle. The ballet’s striking sets by award-winning Canadian designer Camellia Koo reflect the beauty of Canada’s national heritage parks, with dramatic lighting by Bonnie Beecher. With over 30 performers, Swan Lake is a showcase of classical dancing intending to introduce Canadians from coast to coast to the art of ballet.

The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition

Featuring choreography by Bengt Jörgen and the timeless music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, this holiday favourite continues to delight audiences of all ages. Sue LePage’s beautiful costume and set designs reflect Jörgen’s vision of a distinctly Canadian Nutcracker set in Algonquin Park – where Klara meets lumberjacks, Mounties and woodland creatures in her dream journey, and dancers perform against 20th Century landscape paintings by the Group of Seven and other Canadian artists. Bonnie Beecher’s lighting design illuminates this stunning winter wonderland. Audiences continue to return to The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition year after year to experience the magic of the holidays.

The Velveteen Rabbit

The season opens with the 4 time Dora Mavor Moore Award nominated production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Based on Margery Williams’ treasured story of a young boy and his stuffed rabbit that comes to life, this fairy tale ballet by choreographer Kathleen Rea is a long-standing favourite with young audiences wherever it is performed. The Velveteen Rabbit features music by Ivan Barbotin, set design by Glenn Davidson and costume design by Andrew Majtenyi & Kathleen Rea.

Bouffonia – An Evening of Contemporary and Classical Works

Bouffonia marked the return of acclaimed Canadian choreographer Robert Desrosiers in 2013 after a decade-long absence from dance creation. Known as one of the country’s most imaginative choreographers, his new work bears his unmistakable hallmark of the surreal spectacle – an exciting example of the special genre of dance-theatre Desrosiers established during his career. Set to original music by Eric Cadesky and Nick Dyer, Bouffonia features fantastical sets, props and costumes and includes many acrobatic dance elements.

“We are very excited to showcase the incredible talent of our dancers through these Canadiana-inspired productions of classic ballets,” said company Artistic Director & CEO, Bengt Jörgen. “I look forward to bringing these uniquely Canadian renditions of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker back to communities across the country in celebration of the nation’s 150th anniversary!”

As with all of Canada’s Ballet Jörgen’s major productions, both Swan Lake and The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition are also designed to include young dancers from local communities. This local participant program provides the opportunity for young and aspiring dancers to perform alongside members of the professional company and gain invaluable performance experience.

Canada’s Ballet Jörgen is also part of The Arts and Culture Welcome Refugees initiative jointly funded by the Canada Council for the Arts and Sun Life Financial. Through this initiative, Syrian refugees and their sponsor families will be invited to attend performances in Saskatoon, Regina, Halifax and select cities in Ontario including Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Ottawa and Toronto.

Other community engagement initiatives by Canada’s Ballet Jörgen include classes at local dance schools, with dates soon to be announced.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW for select tour dates at balletjorgen.ca

2016/2017 Tour Dates

About Canada’s Ballet Jörgen

Canada’s Ballet Jörgen builds communities across Canada through the shared experience of professional ballet. Reaching every province with over 600 events annually, we ensure communities large and small, urban and rural have access to a ballet experience that is recognized for its innovation, warmth and beauty. Inspiring and connecting with Canadians for over 25 years, Canada’s Ballet Jörgen makes ballet and Canadian choreography a meaningful part of Canadians’ lives through performance, education, and community engagement.

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For more information, photos, media passes, and/or to request an interview, contact:
Canada’s Ballet Jörgen, Michelle Yagi, 416.415.5000, marketingassociate@balletjorgen.ca

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