DANCERS REIGNITE THE STAGE

Aug 26 2021 | Posted in Press Releases

Dancers Reignite the Stage

WINNIPEG, August 26, 2021 - It has been 17 months since the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) Company graced the stage at the Centennial Concert Hall, and now the stage is set to shine again as we proudly return to live performances for our 82nd season. Join us on our entertaining adventure by purchasing your subscription today!

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“We are thrilled to welcome back our talented dancers and supporters to share in the joyous new season again,” says André Lewis, Artistic Director & CEO.

“We adapted to these extraordinary times and have been reinvigorated by our community to keep creating art that reflects the diverse and trailblazing city we call home.”

The 2021-22 season lineup includes an array of works by world-renowned artists, continuing to showcase the RWB as a magnet for global talent. Audiences will enjoy unique stylings from choreographers such as Galina Yordanova & Nina Menon, Marius Petipa and Val Caniparoli, as well as the brilliant athleticism and flair of newly appointed RWB Principal Dancers Chenxin Liu, Alanna McAdie, and Yue Shi..

Alanna McAdie is eager to help reignite the stage:

“Every new season brings so much excitement and energy to start again and see how hard we can work to create the best performances for Winnipeg and abroad. I always love this feeling and it feels even stronger this year as we have waited on hold in our starting blocks for so long.”

Accompanying the visually breathtaking performances, audiences will hear iconic scores from famous composers such as Aaron Copland, Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, in addition to arrangements from music legend and Winnipeg’s own Ron Paley.

According to Tara Birtwhistle, Associate Artistic Director, “The past year has shown the perseverance, resilience and ingenuity of our Company. While the pandemic will continue to impact us for some time to come, we are moving forward with great optimism. We missed our patrons and cannot wait to share this spectacular season with a capacity-filled theatre and feel the energy build in anticipation of the curtain rising.”

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet gratefully acknowledges the support of our funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council.

“The past year has shown the perseverance, resilience and ingenuity of our Company. While the pandemic will continue to impact us for some time to come, we are moving forward with great optimism.”

2021-22 Season Programming

Perpetual Motion

October 14-17, 2021

History comes full circle in Perpetual Motion as we present RWB favourites, Rodeo and Seventh Symphony.

Rodeo

Theatrical ballet at its finest.Agnes de Mille’s exuberant and amusing Rodeo portrays our universal desire to be loved – and our fear of rejection from those we love. The awkward, tomboyish Cowgirl vies for the attention of the Head Wrangler at The Burnt Ranch and discovers love where she least expects it.

CHOREOGRAPHY Agnes de Mille | MUSIC Aaron Copland

This production of Rodeo is presented with the cooperation of The DeMille Working Group, Anderson Ferrell, Director.

Seventh Symphony

From grace to stoicism to lightheartedness and ending with an explosion of energy, Toer van Schayk’s powerful choreography adds nuance to Beethoven’s eponymous symphonic masterpiece. This ballet is a potent reminder that dance has the power to transcend and represents the light at the end of a dark tunnel, hopeful and convinced of a radiant new future.

CHOREOGRAPHY Toer van Schayk | MUSIC Ludwig van Beethoven ‘Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92’

Nutcracker

December 18-28, 2021

Our homegrown Nutcracker is destined to delight audiences of all ages this holiday season. Follow young Clara and her Prince as they are ambushed by the mischievous Mouse King, walk through a winter wonderland filled with shimmering snowflakes, and arrive in the court of the dazzling Sugar Plum Fairy. Our festive classic remains a testament to imagination with Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, timeless choreography, eye-catching costumes, and of course, the dessert-stealing bear!

CHOREOGRAPHY Galina Yordanova & Nina Menon | MUSIC Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The Sleeping Beauty

February 23-27, 2022

Reawaken your sense of wonder with this bewitching take on the popular fairy tale. When the maleficent Carabosse lays a curse on the newborn Princess Aurora that casts her into a century-long slumber, only the power of love can compel her back home. Tchaikovsky’s iconic composition is brought to life in spellbinding classical ballet with the choreography of Marius Petipa. Luxurious sets, elaborate period costumes, and an eclectic cast of storybook characters captivate both the young in years and the young at heart in The Sleeping Beauty.

CHOREOGRAPHY Marius Petipa | MUSIC Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story

May 11-15, 2022

Ballet meets Broadway in this inventive reinterpretation of the fairy tale favourite. Inspired by the 1957 television musical, Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story fuses classical ballet with jazz and tap to themes from Richard Rodgers’ songbook, arranged for a live jazz orchestra by Winnipeg’s own renowned bandleader Ron Paley. Delightfully retro 1950s setting and high fashion costumes create the perfect backdrop for the season’s final mainstage performance.

CHOREOGRAPHY - Val Caniparoli | MUSIC ARRANGEMENTS & ORCHESTRATIONS - Ron Paley

Subscriber Confidence

Based on Manitoba Public Health Guidelines and the Centennial Concert Hall’s re-opening policy announced on August 20, 2021, individuals must be fully immunized to attend in-person performances. Additional safety measures will include rigorous cleaning and sanitation protocols, as well as a contactless entrance experience. In addition, up until 24 hours before the day of a performance during the 2021-22 season, the RWB will offer audience members the opportunity to exchange their tickets or receive refunds free of charge.

If Manitoba Public Health Guidelines change and do not allow us to return to the theatre at a minimum of 50% capacity, the performance will be delivered digitally. Five weeks prior to a performance, the RWB will announce whether the performance can happen in a theatre setting or if the performance will be digitally delivered.

The RWB remains committed to a safe return to the stage, which means the protection of our artists, staff, and patrons continues to be at the heart of all our decisions. We deeply appreciate everyone’s enduring cooperation and understanding as we look forward to welcoming back our passionate fans for the magnificent new season. Your ongoing support is instrumental in helping us raise the curtain again at the Centennial Concert Hall this fall.

The RWB website will be updated on an ongoing basis regarding our re-opening plans, and we will communicate additional information to our patrons in the days ahead. We hope our evolving arrangements offer you the flexibility you need to join us with confidence.

View our FAQs For interview requests with Artistic staff and Dancers, please contact:
Jo Magnifico | Communications & Public Relations Specialist
204.957.3456 or jmagnifico@rwb.org