Ballet BC

Ballet BC
Name	Ballet BC
Founded	1986
Founders	Patricia Neary; Arnold Spohr (organization lineage)
Location	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Venue	Queen Elizabeth Theatre; Vancouver Playhouse (historic)
Artistic director	(see Artistic Direction and Leadership)

Ballet BC is a contemporary dance company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, established in the mid-1980s with roots in earlier Canadian ballet traditions. The company is known for commissioning new choreography, touring nationally and internationally, and engaging in community and educational programs with institutions across British Columbia. Ballet BC maintains collaborations with choreographers, composers, visual artists, and cultural organizations to advance contemporary ballet practice.

History

Ballet BC emerged from the professional dance scene in Vancouver influenced by figures such as Patricia Neary, Arnold Spohr, Celeste Dandeker and institutions like the Ballets Russes lineage and Canadian companies including Royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Toronto Dance Theatre. In its formative period the company shared stages with venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Vancouver), Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, Vancouver Arts Club Theatre and connected with festivals like the Vancouver International Dance Festival and the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Early tours and exchanges involved partnerships with organizations including Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council and touring presenters like Tourism Vancouver and provincial arts presenters associated with British Columbia Touring Council.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s Ballet BC negotiated relationships with production entities such as Pacific Opera Victoria, Citadel Theatre, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and funding bodies including Canada Arts Presentation Fund and philanthropic supporters like Vancouver Foundation and corporate partners from BC Business Council. Collaborations extended to choreographers and dancers from international companies like Birmingham Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dutch National Ballet and contemporary ensembles such as Alonzo King LINES Ballet.

Artistic Direction and Leadership

Artistic stewardship involved figures linked to Canadian and international dance networks: past leaders and artistic partners included individuals connected to Karen Kain, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Franklin Dow and educators from institutions like The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Vancouver Academy of Music and the Banff Centre. Administrative governance interfaced with boards comprised of members from organizations such as Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council and cultural policy advisers linked to Heritage Canada and municipal entities like City of Vancouver.

Artistic direction emphasized commissioning new works from choreographers with ties to companies such as Naomi Campbell Dance Theatre (note: distinct choreographers), Jirí Kylián-affiliated artists, and emerging creators who trained at schools like Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada), School of American Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Juilliard School.

Repertoire and Commissions

The repertoire spans neoclassical and contemporary ballet, including premieres by choreographers associated with Crystal Pite, Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon, Aszure Barton, Helen Pickett, Jean Grand-Maître, James Kudelka, Mats Ek, Trajal Harrell and collaborators drawn from the contemporary scene around William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Karole Armitage and Shen Wei. Musical collaborators have included composers and ensembles such as John Adams (composer), Philip Glass, R. Murray Schafer, Osvaldo Golijov, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and performers linked to Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.

Set, costume, and lighting designers involved artists working with houses such as Canadian Stage, Shakespeare in the Park (New York City), and visual artists represented in galleries like Vancouver Art Gallery and institutions including Emily Carr University of Art and Design and School of Visual Arts (New York). Co-commissions often partnered with festivals like the Edinburgh International Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Spoleto Festival USA and venues including Sadler's Wells, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Kennedy Center presenters.

Company Dancers and Training

Dancers have been recruited from conservatories and companies such as Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, National Ballet School of Canada, Alvin Ailey School, Humber College, The Juilliard School, École Supérieure de Danse de Cannes, Paris Opera Ballet School and international companies including Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Stuttgart Ballet and Munich Ballet. Training programs and apprentice opportunities were informed by partnerships with educational institutions like Vancouver Community College, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, Capilano University and community arts hubs such as Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre.

Company classes, mentorships, and outreach brought connections to pedagogues and master teachers who worked with organizations like Royal Academy of Dance, ABT National Training Curriculum, Cecchetti Council of America and workshops affiliated with Dance West Festival.

Tours and Community Engagement

Touring history included national tours across provinces with presenters linked to Canada Council for the Arts Touring Fund, performances at festivals like Canada Dance Festival, international engagements at venues such as Sadler's Wells, Centre national de la danse, Teatro alla Scala and cultural exchanges with bodies including British Council, Alliance Française, Goethe-Institut and diplomatic cultural programs of Global Affairs Canada. Regional outreach engaged community partners including Vancouver Public Library, BC Public Schools, YMCA of Greater Vancouver and health and wellness programs collaborating with Vancouver Coastal Health.

Residency activities and educational initiatives involved institutions such as Simon Fraser University School for the Contemporary Arts, Emily Carr University, Pacific Opera Victoria and cross-disciplinary projects with musicians from Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and visual artists from Museum of Anthropology at UBC.

Awards and Recognition

The company and its artists received recognition and awards intersecting with Canadian arts honors such as Governor General's Performing Arts Awards, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Awards, Dora Mavor Moore Award, Bessie Awards, Critic's Circle National Dance Awards and nominations from national arts funding bodies including Canada Council for the Arts and provincial awards through BC Touring Council and municipal culture awards from City of Vancouver. Individual dancers and choreographers affiliated with the company have been shortlisted or honored by institutions like Royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Dance Magazine Awards, International Dance Council (CID) and festival juries at Jacob's Pillow and Edinburgh International Festival.

Category:Dance companies in Canada