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Alberta Ballet

Alberta Ballet is Canada's third largest dance company and is in its 43rd season. Alberta Ballet has developed a distinctive repertoire and performance quality that has brought it to the forefront of both its home and international stages. The Company of Alberta Ballet comprises 30 classically trained professional dancers from Australia, Canada, England, France, Japan, Italy, Korea, Cuba and the United States.
The seed of Alberta Ballet was planted in the early 1950s by the late Dr. Ruth Carse in Edmonton. In 1966, it officially took the name Alberta Ballet Company and in 1990 completed a successful merger with Calgary City Ballet. The new organization operates and performs in both Calgary and Edmonton. The main office in Calgary's Nat Christie Centre houses two studios, dancers' lounge, wardrobe facilities and the administrative office. There is also an office in downtown Edmonton with a smaller staff. The Company also has a 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse in southeast Calgary that stores existing sets and is used to build new sets.
At the suggestion of the Provincial Government in 1966, the name changed to Alberta Ballet Company, later shortened to Alberta Ballet. In 1975, Dr. Carse stepped down and Jeremy Leslie-Spinks provided artistic leadership for one season until the appointment of Brydon Paige, who served as artistic director from 1976 to 1988. Ali Pourfarrokh fulfilled the position for ten years until 1998, and then Mikko Nissinen took the reigns for the next two years. In 2002, Canadian-born Jean Grand-Maître was appointed to the post. During his tenure, Grand-Maître has elevated the profile of Alberta Ballet across Canada and around the world.
Alberta Ballet reaches thousands of Albertans each season from September to May as well as performs across Canada, and internationally to the United States, Europe, China, and Africa. The Company invites leading and world renowned conductors, choreographers and other guest artists to take part in their seasons, as well as presents the best of Canada's ballet companies including the National Ballet of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and Ballet British Columbia.