Company Makes Debut European Tour

January 22nd, 2008

Moncton NB, CANADA: One of Canada’s top ballet companies, Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada (ABTC) left last night for a European tour of its popular and critically acclaimed production PHANTOM of the OPERA. This marks the Company’s first major European Tour and will see ABTC performing in several centres across Belgium and France.

Established in 2001 under the artistic direction and choreographic vision of Igor Dobrovolskiy, this company of 11 dancers has earned an international reputation for high production values and outstanding performances which engage audiences of every age. Its repertory is entirely choreographed by Mr. Dobrovolskiy and includes a diverse collection of original full-length narrative ballets that explore contemporary themes within the classical genre.

PHANTOM of the OPERA, set on the music of French composer Francis Poulenc, is the Company’s fifth original production and has proved to be its most popular to date, selling out across Atlantic Canada on its debut 2006 tour. In addition to its European tour, ABTC will take PHANTOM on the road across Canada performing in cities across Quebec, Saskatchewan Alberta and British Columbia. All Canadian shows are moving very well with two performances in Medicine Hat, Alberta sold-out for months.

Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada has made a rapid and unprecedented rise to the top ranks of Canadian dance. Mounting its first production in May 2002, the Company has created an original full-length ballet every year and has a growing repertoire of short pieces.

The Company performed internationally for the first time during the 2006/2007 season when it took its ballet AMADEUS on an extensive tour of North Carolina, and two engagements in Belgium. This season’s tour to Europe came as a direct result of the positive audience and presenter response to AMADEUS.

CEO Susan Chalmers-Gauvin, who will join the tour for the performance in Le Mans, sees positive touring opportunities throughout Europe for Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada. “We were not surprised by the overwhelming response of the audiences in Belgium and North Carolina last year, because we know the high calibre of our work, but we are definitely pleased with how the international market is opening up for us,” she says. “Our ballets are striking a positive chord with European presenters in particular and several have told us that our Company is exciting because we are doing original ballets much different from the classical ballet norm. They also continue to remark on the exceptional technical expertise of our dancers as well as the outstanding production values of our ballets,” she continues. “It’s becoming very clear that the unique vision of our Artistic Director and choreographer is being recognized and appreciated on an international level,” she said.

Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada will finish a very busy season with its Sixth Annual Velvet Gala in Moncton on May 22, 2008.

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