For Immediate Release
August 25, 2016
Record Setting Audience Numbers Coast to Coast
Led by an extraordinary Canadian production of Sleeping Beauty and expanded community programming Canada’s Ballet Jörgen reached over 160,000 people in its 2015-2016 season.
Making dance accessible to all Canadians, Canada’s Ballet Jörgen delivered over 1,500 events in 59 Canadian communities and nine provinces in its most recent season.
The addition of the company’s seventh unique full-length ballet to the repertoire, combined with a focus on placing ballet in the community – including at Toronto’s Pride Parade – Canada’s Ballet Jörgen is reaching new audiences for dance. A third of the company’s audiences are of diverse origin and many are enjoying ballet for the first time.
“We are delighted that so many people love dance and want to be part of this wonderful art form across Canada. We are deeply touched by the 10,000 of thousands of Canadian families who share their valuable time with us in communities coast to coast” Artistic Director, Bengt Jörgen
As part of its commitment to making ballet more accessible, Canada’s Ballet Jörgen delivered extensive community and education programming in every community where it performed. This included master classes and community performance events. An additional innovative initiative was the Sleeping Beauty Youth Education Program. This program encourages local dance students to perform children’s roles appearing alongside the company’s professional dancers. For many of these young performers, it was the thrill of a lifetime.
Engaging audiences in a dialogue about national identity, Canada’s Ballet Jörgen will bring its celebrated Canadian version of Swan Lake, set in 18th century New France’s Fortress of Louisbourg Nova Scotia, to communities coast to coast in the 2016/17 season. Together with The Nutcracker, a Canadian Tradition, the beloved children’s story of The Velveteen Rabbit and the mesmerizing Bouffonia by one of Canada’s greatest dance makers, Robert Desrosiers, Canada’s Ballet Jörgen looks forward to welcoming everyone to the ballet.
Canada’s Ballet Jörgen 2015-2016 Season Major Supporters
National Presenting Partner
Government Partners
Apprentice Program Partner
Education Partner
Aeroplan Member Donation Program
We thank Aeroplan for its ongoing
support through the Aeroplan Member Donation Program
Creation Partner
Atlantic Youth Programming Partner
Travel Partner
Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation Performance Sponsor
Dancer Sponsor and Health & Wellness Partner
Programming Partners
Nutcracker Youth Education Program Sponsor
Foundation Partners
The Bennett Family Foundation, J. P. Bickell Foundation, Findlay Family Foundation, The Linda Frum and Howard Sokolowski Foundation, Charles H. Ivey Foundation, Sanford McFarlane Family Foundation, Adele & Paul Deacon Nanton Fund
About Canada’s Ballet Jörgen
Canada’s Ballet Jörgen enriches our lives by bringing professional ballet to communities – large and small, urban and rural – across Canada. Known for the warmth and beauty of its productions, CBJ reaches every province, delivering more than 1,000 performances, ballet classes and community engagement events involving over 150,000 participants annually.
http://www.balletjorgencanada.ca
For interview requests, performance photos and more please visit www.balletjorgencanada.ca/media or contact Michelle Yagi, Marketing Associate, at 416-961-4725 or marketingassociate@balletjorgen.ca
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