140 young dancers on stage in Corps de ballet
The annual show of the École supérieure de ballet du Québec marks the launch of a $3M fundraising campaign.
With some 140 talented young people participating – the largest Corps de ballet cast yet! – the annual show of the École supérieure de ballet du Québec will thrill spectators of all ages on May 26 and 27 at Salle Pierre-Mercure. Featuring ballet, character dance and contemporary choreography, the gala show immerses the audience in the eclectic world of dance, including a sampling of some of the great works in the classical repertoire.
Through nine colourful short pieces, including excerpts from the masterpieces La Bayadère and Paquita, the audience will be transported by the energy and technical excellence of the 11-to-20-year-old dancers in the École supérieure’s professional division.
“Corps de ballet is far from a simple school show. Once again this year, you will be delighted by the energy, versatility and professionalism of our remarkable young dancers. The desire to dance under the bright lights is what drives them to surpass themselves and give their very best each and every day.” - Anik Bissonnette, artistic director
With the aim of democratizing dance, the École supérieure will donate about 100 tickets to community centres, giving families of modest means the chance to attend the family performance, on May 27 at 2 p.m., for free. In addition, ticket prices for that performance have been reduced by 15 to 20% in order to make it easier for lower-income persons to attend. The show is also accessible to persons with reduced mobility.
On Friday, May 26, the show’s opening night, the École supérieure’s foundation will officially launch its major fundraising campaign, Provoquez l’exceptionnel. Katia Mead, the campaign’s honorary chair and daughter of École supérieure and Grands Ballets founder Ludmilla Chiriaeff, will be in attendance. The goal of the campaign is to raise $3M over three years, including $1M in planned donations. The funds will finance scholarships, health services, artistic activities and improvements to the school’s infrastructure and equipment. On Saturday, May 27, a benefit event organized by* Jeune Scène d’affaires* (the foundation’s young entrepreneurs group), will be held on the theme of Atlantis, completing the campaign launch in a festive setting.
The École supérieure de ballet du Québec’s mission is to train dancers and creators meeting the highest criteria in the world of professional dance, in so doing, to promote the recognition, outreach and development of dance. Founded in 1952 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff and incorporated in 1966 at the request of Québec’s Ministère des Affaires culturelles, it is the reference in Québec for professional training in classical dance. About the École supérieure’s foundation Since 2015, the foundation's mission is to financially support the École supérieure de ballet du Québec in its pursuit of excellence. Through its support of the École supérieure and its related entities, it also seeks to foster the recognition, outreach and development of dance both here at home and abroad.