Ballet BC is a contemporary ballet company located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Ballet BC
A modern theatre building in off-white concrete, glass facade for the first three storeys
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, home of Ballet BC
General information
NameBallet BC
Previous namesBallet British Columbia
Predecessor
  • Pacific Ballet Theatre
  • Ballet Horizons[1]
Year founded1986
Founders
Artistic Director
  • Medhi Walerski (2020–Present)
  • Emily Molnar (2009–2020)
  • John Alleyne (1992–2009)
  • Marquita Lester (1992)
  • Barry Ingham (1990–92)
  • Patricia Neary (1989–90)
  • Reid Anderson (1987–89)
  • Annette av Paul (1986–87)
LocationVancouver, BC
Principal venueQueen Elizabeth Theatre
Websiteballetbc.com
Senior staff
Chief Executive
  • John Clark[2]
  • Branislav Henselmann (2012–2017)
  • Jay Rankin (2009–2012)
  • Susan K. E. Howard (2006–2009)
  • Jennifer Johnstone (2004–2006)
  • Kevin Myers (2000–2004)
  • Tricia Baldwin (1997–2000)
  • Howard R. Jang (1993–1997)
  • David Y. H. Lui (1992–1993)
  • Robert J. McGifford (1987–1992)
  • Ken Peirson (1986)


Artistic staff
Artistic Director
  • Medhi Walerski

History

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Ballet BC is a professional contemporary ballet company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1] The company was founded as Ballet British Columbia by Jean Orr, David Y. H. Lui[3] and Sheila Begg in 1986, with Annette av Paul as first Artistic Director.

Artistic direction passed to Reid Anderson, Patricia Neary and Barry Ingham and in 1992 to John Alleyne, who introduced a program with original choreography including his The Faerie Queen[4] in 2000 and dances by other Canadian choreographers. Alleyne was followed by Emily Molnar after the reorganization in 2009. Molnar was followed by Medhi Walerski in 2020.[1]

As of April 2015, the company is the only professional ballet company in British Columbia.[1] Its home performances take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.[5]

In 2023, Ballet BC moved into their own facility for the first time, at Granville Island.[6]

Repertoire

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Ballet BC presents a repertoire of contemporary ballet.[7]

The company opened the 2015 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, presenting three dances each by a different choreographer, including Twenty Eight Thousand Waves by their own resident choreographer Cayetano Soto.[8] The company travelled on their 30th anniversary tour in late 2015 and 2016.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Strate, Grant; Forzle, Richard (4 March 2015). "Ballet British Columbia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Team". Ballet BC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017.
  3. ^ Lederman, Marsha (30 September 2011). "David Lui: The man with the flowing cape brought ballet to life in B.C." The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015.
  4. ^ Stuart, Lena Marie (25 October 2002). "Ballet British Columbia - The Faerie Queen". Selected reviews. criticaldance.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2003.
  5. ^ "Contact us". Ballet BC. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Ballet BC moves into new home on Granville Island | Urbanized".
  7. ^ "Vision". Ballet BC. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015.
  8. ^ Ross, Ken (27 June 2015). "Dance Review: Ballet BC jolts Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival back to life". Masslive. Springfield, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Ballet BC: 30th Anniversary Tour". Banff Centre.
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