This season combines classical favourites with contemporary pieces to draw in both new audiences and stimulate long-time fans. Alberta Ballet’s Artistic Director Jean Grand-Maître believes it’s especially important to attract younger viewers.

“This is one of the best ways to introduce children to classical arts,” he says. “We want to nurture our future audience.” Fairy tales, familiar children’s stories and even some light-hearted Shakespeare will pack the Jubilee with shiny-eyed boys and girls awed at the sight of their favourite narratives coming to life. Grand-Maître also assures ballet-goers that there are some adventurous productions for adults as well, including the return of one of last year’s most celebrated ballets, The Fiddle and the Drum, featuring Alberta native Joni Mitchell’s music.

Peter Pan
(September 18-20, 2008)
The season starts off with the Alberta premiere of J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale featuring Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys in the magical setting of Neverland. Performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, this showing, already a hit in its hometown, will enchant children and adults who never truly grew up.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(October 23-25, 2008)
Each season the company adapts one of Shakespeare’s works as an ongoing series. This year is the fanciful romantic comedy, which follows the interlocking misadventures of Athenian royals, woodland fairies and a group of actors, as the mischievous Puck meddles in their affairs of love. The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s score to accompany what is sure to be a laugh-out-loud presentation.

The Nutcracker
(December 17-22, 2008)
The Nutcracker is an annual tradition for Alberta Ballet, but this year it has been completely reworked and is making its world premiere this holiday season. Costing $1.5 million, “this is the most lavish production we’ll ever mount,” says Grand-Maître. “This is going to be one of the most important premieres we’ve ever had.” Following the travels of a child as she visits the palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy and meets the Snow Queen, the Nutcracker is a special part of the holidays for many families.

The Fiddle and the Drum
(February 26-28, 2009)
After the immense success and critical acclaim of this ballet, an original Alberta Ballet creation, it’s no surprise that the Fiddle and the Drum is in this year’s roster. Expanded to be a full-length ballet including four new songs, the Fiddle and the Drum is a visual expression of Joni Mitchell’s songs and their social and political themes. A collaboration between Grand-Maître, who choreographed, and Mitchell, who provided the music and artwork, this ballet will be going on an international tour in early 2010.  

Alice in Wonderland
(April 2-4, 2009)
Lewis Carroll’s fantastic account of Alice’s adventures down the rabbit hole as she encounters the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and many more familiar characters is back again after a successful run in 2006. Choreographed by award-winning ballet master Edmund Stripe, this fast-paced children’s favourite also includes incredible sets which, among other things, features a dramatic setting of the Queen’s garden and croquet grounds, and allow Alice to both grow and shrink as the story requires.

A Streetcar Named Desire
(May 7-9, 2009)
Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer prize-winning play, set in steamy New Orleans, provides the story for the final performance of the season at Alberta Ballet. Presented by Ballet British Columbia, this tale pits Southern belle Blanche Dubois against her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley in a story of love, illusion and dependence.

Alberta Ballet is also involved in the CBC production of The Secret of the Nutcracker, a full-length high-definition film, costing $6 million, to air in December of this year. Grand-Maître describes it as “a narrative film with some dancing in it,” and for those who can’t make it to the ballet performance at the Jubilee, this film offers a look at what the company can do.

Alberta Ballet offers several subscription packages through their website http://www.albertaballet.com as well as single-performance tickets through Ticketmaster.