JONI MITCHELL AND
ALBERTA BALLET'S
FIDDLE AND THE DRUM

Calgary, Alberta

28 Dancers
12 Crew
Choreographed by Jean Grand-Maître
Original Score and songs by Joni Mitchell
Set Design by Joni Mitchell
Danced by Alberta Ballet

Residency and Outreach Activities Available

ABOUT

Legendary Canadian artist Joni Mitchell and acclaimed choreographer and artistic director of Alberta Ballet, Jean Grand-Maître, have come together to collaborate on a unique fusion of dance, art and music.

The Fiddle and The Drum, a semi-abstract narrative ballet danced in neo-classical style, will be performed to an hour of Mitchell's compelling music and her latest artwork, which will be projected on three large canvass screens behind the dancers throughout the ballet. Alberta Ballet's 26 athletic dancers will merge – through powerful and sensual movements – with Joni Mitchell's eclectic sound and visual art and create a contemporary fusion of art forms that will awaken and stir the soul.

ELTON

This work will take audiences into the psyche of one the most acclaimed artists of the past century and the landscapes that shaped his destiny. Don’t miss your chance to be the first to experience the world premiere of ELTON, a ballet certain to rock the entire planet!

Dates:
Calgary: May 6 - 8, 2010
Edmonton: May 11 - 12, 2010

Choreography: Jean Grand-Maître, Music: Sir Elton John,
Set Designer: Guillaume Lord, Costume Designer: Martine Bertrand,
Lighting Designer: Pierre Lavoie, Video Designer: Adam Larsen,
Sound Designer: Claude Lemelin

PRESS

"In the case of Alberta Ballet's Dancing Joni ... a great artist has inspired greatness in her fellow artists." Calgary Sun

"Alberta Ballet artistic director Jean Grand-Maître has the smarts. He has created an audience-friendly ballet, The Fiddle and the Drum, that can be his company's calling card around the world. "
Globe and Mail .

"The Fiddle and the Drum pairs Mitchell's art and songs with dance choreographed by Jean Grand-Maitre of the Alberta Ballet. Its debut at the Four Seasons Centre was powerful, charged with athleticism and a haunting beauty as the narrative unfolds and the dancers are bathed in washes of gold and green light."
The National Post.

"Grand-Maître's company is young, muscular and mostly bare-skinned, an essentially human touch. They move as a community, dancing exuberantly. This is not a ballet yearning to be Broadway. The Fiddle and the Drum is uniquely Joni, offering up her music for dance interpretation."
The Toronto Star .

"Alberta Ballet's dancers infuse their performance with electrifying intensity, digging into Grand-Maitre's sometimes athletically super-charged choreography with passionate commitment."
The National Post

"Just how good is Alberta Ballet's new show? Well, let's just say that Dancing Joni & Other Works was easily go od enough Thursday to leave most of the opening night audience rockin' out into the night dazed, dazzled and near delirious with delight."
The Calgary Herald

WEBSITE

albertaballet.com

  The Fiddle and The Drum