Artistic Director Jean Grand-MaÎtre Dear Dance Lovers, Leonard Bernstein once said that “the more brutal the world becomes, the more beautiful the art must be, for beauty and truth are the mainspring of all significant art.” At Alberta Ballet, inspiring you to believe in all things wondrous is our mission. Our 53rd season’s programming has warmly embraced this vision as we eagerly invite the exotic, the spectacular and the magical to inhabit our stage. Join us as we feature the best dancers and the most astounding productions from around the planet to rock your world. It will be a season of mystical fairy tales (Nutcracker, Peter Pan and Swan Lake), legendary myths (Frankenstein), high adrenaline and power (Diavolo, Alberta Ballet Unleashed) and breathtaking exoticism (Taj Express). Come and flirt with adventure, unlock your mind and dare to feel all you can feel for true beauty never dies. Witness the living arts and challenge everything. SEATING MAP 19/20 SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE PRICING Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium & Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium SUPER PACKAGE PREMIER PREMIER A ZONE B ZONE C ZONE D ZONE 6 Pack $706.80 $596.40 $481.20 $404.40 $308.40 $212.40 5 Pack $589.00 $497.00 $401.00 $337.00 $257.00 $177.00 4 Pack $471.20 $397.60 $320.80 $269.60 $205.60 $141.60 19/20 SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE PERFORMANCE DATES PACKAGE TAJ EXPRESS FRANKENSTEIN DIAVOLO ALBERTA BALLET PETER PAN SWAN LAKE UNLEASHED Sept 25, 2019 Oct 23, 2019 N/A Feb 12, 2020 March 18, 2020 May 6, 2020 Wednesday 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Sept 26, 2019 Oct 24, 2019 Jan 16, 2020 Feb 13, 2020 March 19, 2020 May 7, 2020 Thursday 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Sept 27, 2019 Oct 25, 2019 Jan 17, 2020 Feb 14, 2020 March 20, 2020 May 8, 2020 Friday 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM CALGARY Saturday Sept 28, 2019 Oct 26, 2019 Jan 18, 2020 Feb 15, 2020 March 21, 2020 May 9, 2020 Matinée 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM Saturday Sept 28, 2019 Oct 26, 2019 Jan 18, 2020 Feb 15, 2020 March 21, 2020 May 9, 2020 Evening 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Oct 4, 2019 Nov 1, 2019 Tues. Jan 21, 2020 Feb 21, 2020 March 27, 2020 May 15, 2020 Friday 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Wed. Jan 22, 2020 Feb 22, 2020 March 28, 2020 May 16, 2020 Saturday 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM EDMONTON Don’t forget The Nutcracker: Subscribers always get a discount! THE NUTCRACKER SUPER PREMIER PREMIER A ZONE B ZONE C ZONE D ZONE Regular Price $149.00 $126.00 $102.00 $86.00 $66.00 $46.00 Subscriber Price $117.80 $99.40 $80.20 $67.40 $51.40 $35.40 Savings Of $31.20 $26.60 $21.80 $18.60 $14.60 $10.60 2019 NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCE DATES SUN MON TUES WEDS THUR FRI SAT Dec 5, 2019 Dec 6, 2019 Dec 7, 2019 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 & 6:00 PM Dec 8, 2019 1:00 & 6:00 PM EDMONTON Dec 13, 2019 Dec 14, 2019 7:00 PM 1:00 & 6:00 PM Dec 15, 2019 Dec 20, 2019 Dec 21, 2019 1:00 & 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 & 6:00 PM CALGARY Dec 22, 2019 Dec 23, 2019 Dec 24, 2019 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM VISIT WWW.ALBERTABALLET.COM/MYACCOUNT TO RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! SEATING MAP Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium & Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Matinée Evening (Main Floor) Super Premier A Premier B A STAGE C B D C WC D WC Main Floor Main Floor Terrace Left Terrace Right Main Floor Centre 1st Balcony 1st Balcony Terrace Left Terrace Right 1st Balcony Centre 1st Balcony 1st Balcony Left Centre Right Centre nd 2 nd Balcony 2 Left Balcony Centre Right Centre 2nd Balcony Centre Please note: Programming, schedules, pricing, and seating are subject to change. Please refer to the subscription form or visit albertaballet.com for more information. SUBSCRIBERS ENJOY EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON! • Same seats for every show • 20% savings (versus regular priced tickets) • First access and locked-in pricing for all additional performances • Reduced ticket fees • No mailing fees • Free ticket exchanges within the same production • Alberta Ballet AccountManager – where you can renew your subscription, exchange performances and forward your tickets online • Dedicated Box Office team to serve you • Ability to return your tickets as a donation (and get a tax receipt) • Souvenir Ticket Stock • Free ticket replacements • Convenient payment plan • Subscriber gift • Subscriber newsletter • Invitations to special events …and more great offers throughout the season! PLUS, YOU GET FIRST ACCESS TO THESE ADD‑ON SHOWS: • The Nutcracker • Alberta Ballet School Year-End Performance Alberta Ballet dancers Reilley McKinlay & Kelley McKinlay Photographer: Paul McGrath Cover: Alberta Ballet dancer Mariko Kondo Photographer: Paul McGrath Styling: Kara Chomistek and Jessie Li Wardrobe courtesy of Echo Bridal Alberta Ballet CANADA 7 Alberta Ballet Welcomes SEPTEMBER GUEST CALGARY SEP 25-28 EDMONTON OCT 4-5 DIRECTOR: SHRUTI MERCHANT DIRECTOR OF CHOREOGRAPHY: VAIBHAVI MERCHANT DIRECT FROM MUMBAI BOLLYWOOD BRILLIANCE Taj Express explodes with the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people in India for generations. The production is a high energy celebration of new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions featuring colorful costumes, joyful dance, and thrilling live music. Taj Express is an energetic on-stage explosion of the very best that contemporary Bollywood has to offer. “ -STYLE BIRMINGHAM ” Alberta Ballet CANADA 9 ALBERTA BALLET IN CALGARY OCT 23-26 EDMONTON OCT 31-NOV 2 CHOREOGRAPHER: JEAN GRAND-MAÎTRE & Woman Created Monster “On a small table at the centre, a monster slouched, waits to be born.” ~ Mary Shelley A work of breathless horror, featuring the “most threatened the social values. Frankenstein also warns beautiful and moving” of all monsters, 18-year-old its readers of the importance of ethics in science and Mary Shelley’s astonishing literary masterpiece, of the responsibility we have towards each other’s Frankenstein, is celebrating its 200th birthday. well-being,” said Jean. Considered the first science-fiction novel ever written, “We were deeply inspired when we started fantasizing Shelley’s disturbing tale of man’s usurpation of science about how Shelley’s narrative would associate with and woman’s procreative power may have birthed the our present time. It became a much more interesting first genuine myth since the ancient Greeks. odyssey for us as designers to explore this aesthetic. We had a feeling it could be more powerful and “Did I request thee, maker, from my clay to mold would resonate more deeply with the audience.” me man? Why am I here and who am I?” asks the Monster, whose demented birthing leads us to make As for the dancing, Jean promises powerful the chilling realization that we may indeed exist in a performances featuring a mix of both contemporary world without God. and classical ballet styles – a combination Alberta Ballet dancers, as well as fans and followers of the A highly-anticipated world premiere, showcasing Company, have come to expect. six leading-edge designers, Jean Grand-Maître’s Frankenstein will feature a massive multi-media set “The monster’s movements will need to be hideously design, sophisticated state-of-the-art projections, and discombobulated, so that’s going to be interesting a powerful, haunting soundtrack. to choreograph. It’s going to be very athletic and dramatic,” he said. “For those who want to see a Jean and his illustrious team of designers will scary ballet for Halloween and experience a beautiful transpose Shelley’s terrifying “fairytale for adults” to production with exquisite designs, they’re going North America in 2019. For Jean, Shelley’s prophetic narrative seems even more achievable in our modern world than it would have two “Frankenstein also warns its readers of the centuries ago. importance of ethics in science and of the “The designers and I believe that by responsibility we have towards each other’s transposing this terrifying story to our present time we will have a more indelible effect on well-being” ~ Jean Grand-Maître our patrons. It will somehow connect stronger because of how the audience is going to relate to the to enjoy it. But if you’re someone who appreciates technology, the advance of artificial intelligence, stem Frankenstein on a more intellectual and literary level, cell research and cloning,” Jean said. “It also reinforces there’s going to be a lot of meat on the plate for the brilliance of this masterpiece. She was quite people who think of horror stories as more than just ahead of her time. In every way this book captured entertainment.” something that was of its time but was also eternal. Jean warns that this may not be a production suitable “Looking at the period when this was written, there for the whole family or even the faint of heart. His was all of this fear in society.