Dance-lovers who travel to Calgary, Alberta, have a multitude of different styles, performers and venues to choose from for live dance performance. The city offers an exciting and eclectic mix of classical, modern, jazz, ethnic, physical theatre and multidisciplinary movement. Here's a selection of the best:
Alberta Ballet
With Artistic Director, Jean Grand-Maître, Alberta Ballet is the largest, most famous professional company in Calgary, both for its classical, modern and contemporary ballet repetoire. Their annual performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutracker is a highlight of Calgary's Christmas season, and tickets sell out almost as soon as they appear online. They also present several performances every year at the Jubilee Auditorium. This internationally touring company is so popular, visitors are advised to avoid disappointment by pre-purchasing tickets.
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
Since 1984, Vicki Adams Willis has brought the best of the jazz form to Calgary through Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Co, as in the company's own words, they've developed "a distinct and eclectic style that mixes groove, African roots, rhythm, improvisation, interplay with musicians, and deeply human soul." This jazz company's scope extends through the Caribean, Latin America and the US. with performances sure to delight!
Dancers Studio West
Formed by Elaine Bowman in 1981, Dancer's Studio West is a presentation venue which brings the best contemporary dancers to Calgary for performances and workshops. Their Dance Explosions Festival celebrates the best Alberta-based dancers and choreographers. Nor are they timid about controversial themes or unusual forms. DSW offers an artist-in-residence program for professional dancers as well. The studio is a little tricky to find, situated in an alleyway between 10th & 11th Avenue, west of 19th Street, SW, but visitors will find the performances rewarding and energizing!
eko dance projects, W&M Physical Theatre, Surge Company
Led by Melissa Monteros and Wojciech Mochniej, two contemporary dancers who helped to launch the Gdansk Contemporary Dance School and the dance festivals, Dance Explosions and the International Festival of Improvisation, in Poland,eko dance projects, W&M Physical Theatre and Surge Company strives to present "a strong visual world, a deliberate layering of themes and extreme shifts of physical energy." Their performances take place at Dancers Studio West (see above.)
Springboard Dance
Nicole Mion, founder and creative director of Springboard Dance, offers much more than dance. Springboard provides a multidisciplinary approach to movement, incorporating art, theatre and new media into its productions, and producing television specials for Global TV. Springboard hosts Interrarium, a multi-disciplinary creative residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Fluid Movement Arts Festival in Calgary, which showcase the best performers in the city, as well as diverse international dancers and troupes. Star performers discuss dance, and performances and events are hosted at a variety of venues.
Blue Collar Dance Company
It might sound gritty, but it serves up popular, highly energetic and accessible dance. Blue Collar Dance Company led by Tara Blue, is attractive, sexy and young with colourful costumes and broad audience appeal. Everyone will enjoy these performances, which take place at the Orpheum Theatre at SAIT. Be sure to keep an eye open for International Dance Day series Blue Collar hosts for free at the Devonian Gardens downtown every year.
From the Argentine tango to the Ukrainian hopak, a dance aficionado can find highly enjoyable live shows of dance forms from every corner of the globe. Every year, some of the best dancers in the world come to perform at special events through the year, or local cultural groups sponsor dance mixers and even a Viennese debutante ball. Also, One Yellow Rabbit and Theatre Junction at the Grande bring in world-renowned dancers and choreographers either for the High Performance Rodeo or single-night performances. The key to catching these events is to keep an eye open to various cultural clubs and multicultural festivals within the city, or to ticket sellers online.
Dance-cultural travellers may also enjoy the vibrant alternative & avant-garde theatre scene available in Calgary.
Simone Keiran - Simone Keiran’s book A Brief History of Western Sculpture, Quantum Books, was released at the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair. Her articles ...
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