SPRING 2022 NEWS
"After two years of limited in-person performances, our dancers are thrilled to be back on stages across Canada and the United States. We are extremely grateful to everyone who came out to see Romeo & Juliet and for the warm reception we received in communities across the country. We now turn our attention to the long awaited return of Anne of Green Gables - The Ballet® and look forward to seeing you soon in a theatre near you!" - Bengt Jörgen, C.M.
That's a Wrap!
Ballet Jörgen's whirlwind tour of ROMEO & JULIET brought the company to British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Québec, and Ontario with 12 performances to enthusiastic audiences. THANK YOU to our audiences, Local Participants and their families, and to our dance studio partners for their participation. Thank you to our presenters and their beautiful venues; it was wonderful to be back on your stages. And a big thank you to our National Presenting Partner, BMO Financial Group and to the Canada Council for the Arts for supporting Romeo & Juliet performances across Canada.
Anne of Green Gables - The Ballet® is back!
After more than a year of creation, design, fine-tuning, and practice, practice, practice, the World Premiere tour of Anne of Green Gables - The Ballet® was put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deflation that the company felt reverberated through our loyal audiences, both in Canada and in the United States, as the excitement of seeing this well-loved novel come to life was shelved. But she's back! Currently touring in the US, Anne will be back in Canada in May 2022. Check out our 2021/22 Season calendar to find out when Anne will be visiting a town near you and to purchase tickets.
Perseverance pays off. See for yourself.
How does a ballet move from rehearsal studio to stage? Register now and join Artistic Director, Bengt Jörgen, and our dancers virtually in rehearsals as they prepare for the Anne of Green Gables - The The Ballet® tour. The last virtual rehearsal of the season takes place on July 12th at 1PM EDT.
Go further behind the scenes.
Our partners at the George Brown College Centre for Arts, Design & Information Technology captured the myriad details required to create a full-length ballet, adapted from a beloved and timeless story in the documentary This is Ballet; Dancing Anne of Green Gables. The documentary is now streaming on Plex and on Tubi. Pop some corn and settle in to watch the making of a ballet before coming to the live performance!
Human Body Expression is partnering with Ballet Jörgen
"HBE has been creating a full-length show for the last few years, but I always wanted to produce a mixed program and was waiting for the perfect time to do it. I always wanted to see contemporary dancers, classical ballet dancers, emerging dancers and professional dancers in the same show dancing together.” - Hanna Kiel, HBE Artistic Director and Ballet Jörgen's Choreographer in Residence. The upcoming performance of Human Body Expression Mixed Program will include repertoire pieces from HBE and Ballet Jörgen in addition to a World Premiere. Hanna will work with both HBE dancers and Ballet Jörgen dancers and mentorship dancers from the George Brown Dance program. This program is HBE's very first mixed program and the very first partnership production of HBE and Ballet Jörgen. Hanna is excited to bring audiences from ballet and contemporary dance together for this production and we are planning to make this a yearly event. The performance is scheduled for June 2 - 4, 8pm EST at Woodbine Heights Baptist Church. You can go to Human Body Expression for more info and to find out when tickets go on sale.
Summer Intensive programs. Come dance with us!
Ballet Jörgen offers several specialized Summer Intensive programs for dancers of various levels - from 9 to 18 years old. Register now by application only. Level I: ages 9-11, July 8 -11 & August 18 - 21 Level II: ages 12 - 14, August 2 - 6 & August 8 - 12 Level III: ages 15+, August 2 - 12 Level IV: June 27 - July 29 By audition only.
Junior Company Summer Program: Immerse yourself in a professional dance company environment!
This program is for dancers seeking their first professional job in a dance company. Dancers will work with Ballet Jörgen company dancers and Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen to create new works, learn Ballet Jörgen repertoire and put professional poise to technique, etiquette and work habits. Apply to audition now. 6-week program: June 13 - July 24, 2022 4-week program: June 20 - July 15, 2022 Congratulations to our graduating Junior Company dancers Ayana Takahira, Muriel Ventura Pontin, and Jessica Stead.
George Brown Dance Programs in the heart of downtown Toronto.
The George Brown College Dance programs offer exceptional post-secondary professional technical training. With three unique program offerings, post-secondary dancers will find the training most suitable to their goals. Register now to audition for the next semester.
Audition Dates and Cities Friday, May 13th - KINGSTON Sunday, May 15th - TORONTO Sunday, May 22nd - CHARLOTTETOWN Sunday, May 29th - VIA ZOOM Sunday, May 29th - MONCTON Tuesday, June 7th - HALIFAX Sunday, June 12th - VIA ZOOM
Virtual Dance Academy
Ballet Jörgen continues to offer unparalleled dance training to students all over the world, via Zoom, through our Virtual Dance Academy. Students have access to Ballet Jörgen’s diverse faculty and training opportunities from their own homes and local dance studios. Explore programs for students of all ages and levels!
Ballet 101 is back for live in-person performances!
Our commitment to bringing high-quality professional dance to Canadian communities has never waivered, even during these uncertain times. Since February of this year, we have: • performed 18 virtual Ballet 101s • interacted with over 1,800 participants • reached 58 communities throughout Canada and the United States We are now booking in-person Ballet 101 performances. Teachers, educators, community program coordinators: book your Ballet 101 now and have professional dance education come to your school, library, or community centre. Virtual and in-person Ballet 101s across Ontario are made possible by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. "Students had the opportunity to participate in many elements of the show, either with their voice and/or physical participation. Thank you for broadening our appreciation of the arts." - Teacher, Niagara Falls, ON
Böys who Dance discuss gender identity & stereotypes in the dance industry.
On April 2, 2022, our panelists Dr. Lisa Sandlos, Robert Binet, Scott de Cola, and Bebe Brunjes joined host Elise Tigges to discuss the role that the gender binary plays in our society and how it translates over to dance. Watch the discussion now with your dancers.
You can help support Dance for All! Make a gift to Ballet Jörgen to support our live programming and to help us continue to bring dance training, education, and performances to communities throughout Canada.
We are happy to announce the new major partnership with The Richardson Foundation, our founding philanthropic partner for the Saskatchewan Hub, that will help us bring Dance for All to Saskatchewan. By emulating our successful Atlantic Hub strategy, Ballet Jörgen is in the process of establishing a volunteer-led presence in Saskatoon to guide activities throughout the province. We will partner with local dance schools, the public school system, local performance venues, and community mental health and child & youth centres to design and deliver education content relevant to local needs.