DANCE NEWS: Alberta Ballet to tour John creation
23 Jun'10

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

It may not be the royal seal of approval exactly, but it's close enough for the Alberta Ballet.

Officials for the company announced yesterday that it has been given the green light by Sir Elton John to tour its $1.2 million production of LOVE LIES BLEEDING, a multi-media mixture of ballet and video inspired by and featuring the music of Sir Elton and his longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin.

LOVE LIES BLEEDING had its world premiere in Calgary's Jubilee Auditorium in early May, and although John never made it to Calgary nor to a subsequent run in Edmonton, he was kept abreast of audience and critical response to the work and also watched video footage of the ballet, before authorizing it for a wider audience.

"I am proud of what the Alberta Ballet has created and I am looking forward to seeing this ballet live on," John said in the release announcing his approval Tuesday. "It is a strong contemporary choreography that entertains and challenges dance audiences with its new aesthetics and its powerful fusion of different art mediums. I hope it will attract thousands of new patrons to this wonderful art form."

Jean Grand-Maître, who serves as artistic director of the Alberta Ballet and also choreographed LOVE LIES BLEEDING was "ecstatic" at the news that he'll be able to expose his ballet and his company to a broader audience. "This is an exciting time for Alberta Ballet and the future seems brighter than ever, thanks to Sir Elton and Mr. Taupin," Grand-Maitre said.

No tour dates are yet available, but it is expected that the work will begin a tour next year — a tour which could well include a stop here in Toronto, possibly at the Sony Centre, which sent representatives to the Calgary première.