Best Dance Company: Alberta Ballet

photography by Neil Zeller

Alberta Ballet

Dedicated to professional performances, Alberta Ballet is a cornerstone of the dance community. Founded by Muriel Taylor and Dr. Ruth Carse in 1958, this company turned professional in 1966. Since then, Alberta Ballet has been committed to an artistic vision of powerfully exciting dance through every performance. Hailed as one of the most outstanding Canadian choreographer and artistic directors of his generation, Jean Grand-Maître was appointed artistic director of Alberta Ballet in 2002.

Under the province's reopening plan, large gatherings like the ballet will be the last to be reinstated. To keep their loyal audience informed, Alberta Ballet has kept their website up-to-date with videos and information as to how they plan to move forward once it is safe to do so. They remain closed at this time, having re-scheduled their performances to run into 2021. The dancers hope to perform Swan Lake in May 2021, Peter Pan in July 2021 and revive Grand-Maître's All of Us in August 2021.

If you have tickets to one of these shows, Alberta Ballet recommends that you hang on to them until closer to the proposed show date so they can give you more accurate information as it comes out. You can best support them at this time by sharing their social posts about plans to reopen and engage with them to show your interest. Alberta Ballet is also accepting donations to help keep their programs running without the usual financial help they would receive from ticket sales.

FIRST RUNNER UP: DJD

SECOND RUNNER UP: FREE SPIRIT DANCE