A Message from the Artistic Director

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director

Dear Friends and Patrons,

It is with immense pride and excitement that I present to you the world premiere of GRIMM. This production is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity, and I’m deeply grateful to the remarkable individuals who have brought this vision to life.

First, my thanks to our brilliant choreographer, Stefania Ballone. I have had the pleasure of knowing Stefania since she was just 16, during our time at Teatro La Scala in Milano. To see the talented and visionary artist she is today fills me with pride, and I can’t wait for you to see her extraordinary ability to weave movement into emotion!

I would also like to thank composer Taketo Gohara for his breathtaking original score. The beauty and intricacy of the music elevate GRIMM to new heights, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

Our visual designers, Peter Venus and Judith Selenko, have crafted a mesmerizing world. Their innovative use of video enhances the narrative with a layer of magic.

A special acknowledgment goes to costume designer Eleonora Peronetti. Her visionary designs are both stunning and sustainably crafted. In a world where theater must adapt and innovate to survive, Eleonora’s commitment to sustainability is both commendable and inspiring.

I must also extend my gratitude to Carmen Kovacs for her extraordinary dramaturgy. Carmen has taken the tales of the Brothers Grimm to a new level, beautifully intertwining seven narratives into a new story. Her work is tribute to these clever writers and to their body of work, which has been translated into every language of the world, ensuring their timeless appeal endures.

In this transition from the quintessential romantic ballet of La Sylphide to the groundbreaking GRIMM, I am thrilled to honor our promise to blend tradition with innovation. With Stefania Ballone at the helm, we are opening doors for new voices in choreography and solidifying Alberta Ballet as a catalyst for future generations of creators across Canada and beyond.

Thank you for joining us! With your support, we strive to innovate and inspire. I look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.

Warm regards,

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Story

GRIMM

SUMMARY

GRIMM is a ballet with a prologue and two acts, created as a world premiere for Alberta Ballet. The stories that inspired the narrative are seven fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm:  Sleeping Beauty, The Bremen Town Musicians, The Frog Prince, Snow White, The Three Spinners, Rapunzel, and The Seven Ravens. 

Prologue 

The Brothers Grimm stories have been transcribed into all the languages of the world and have enriched the global cultural heritage for both children and adults. Dance is another form of language that is expressed through the body. The beginning of GRIMM is a tribute to this, as different voices in different languages narrate moments from the Grimm stories, resonating with the brilliant movement of the dancers.

Act I
In the heart of the Boreal Forest lives a witch named Mirage, who longs for a child. She finally gives birth to a beautiful baby girl named Aura, with the help of eight witches. After giving birth, Mirage dies, and the witches take care of the child during her early years.

When Aura turns 12, she begins her journey through the forest, where she meets various characters and has multiple experiences that help her grow. A donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster appear with a cart carrying their musical instruments, as they are traveling to join the Bremen band. Aura is very amused and decides to join them on their journey, but one day she decides to leave and continue on her own. She finds herself by the shore of a beautiful lake when she is surprised by a golden ball being chased by a charming girl. The girl is a young princess who loves her ball, but one day she throws it so high that she loses it and runs away in despair. Suddenly, a small frog hops toward Aura with the golden ball and tells her the story. He wants to return the ball to the princess in exchange for her friendship. Curious, Aura follows him, and together they go to the princess, and the frog returns the ball. She smiles again but has no interest in the frog. After his third attempt to get close to her, the frog is harshly rejected, rolling on the ground, and then transforms into a handsome prince. The princess sees him and falls in love, and together they dance passionately before leaving.

Still captivated by the sweet love story, Aura encounters seven dwarves who work in the mines. They are hardworking and kind, and she decides to stay with them for a while. She follows them until she finds herself in a dark part of the forest, where the evil stepmother resides. The stepmother spends all day in front of the mirror because she wants to be the most beautiful in the world. She constantly asks the mirror who the fairest is, but the mirror always replies that it is Snow White, a kind girl who loves nature and is a close friend of the dwarves. The stepmother tries every possible way to get rid of her but fails, and despite poisoning her, Snow White is saved by the love of a prince who awakens her and takes her away. The stepmother, in despair, runs off with burning feet, forgetting her beloved mirror. Frightened by this strange creature, Aura notices the mirror, looks into it, and sees the image of a beautiful woman from behind, standing under a great tree. She doesn’t know who she is but decides to reach her, so she begins to run until she meets three mysterious spinners working with a large thread. They surround her and speak to her about her destiny until one of them shows her the spindle. Fascinated by the object, Aura tries to touch it, but she pricks herself and falls into a deep sleep.

Act II

The scene opens with the image of Aura sleeping in a nest of branches. Below, we see her as a child, looking at herself asleep, or perhaps dead. The child plays and recalls her encounters until a group of eight women with long braids surround her. Frightened, she runs away. The eight women dance with their long braids, accompanied by captivating female voices. The child returns, and the women flee, disappearing into the darkness. Suddenly, the child sees her mother appear, along with her adolescent self. She tries to reach them but they vanish. Mirage and her daughter meet for the first time in this surreal atmosphere and dance in an intense and tender dialogue, then disappear into the darkness. From the shadows, we hear the voice of the stepmother and see her appear, towering with her mirror. Suddenly, the mirror shatters, and she vanishes into the darkness, but several ravens emerge from her large gown. They multiply until they fill the stage, swirling, then vanishing. The child arrives with two dolls: one is the frog, and the other is the princess. She plays with them and finally makes them kiss. The kiss awakens Aura from her long sleep. Love has allowed her to live again.

GRIMM Creative Team

Additional Music Credits:

Music by Taketo Gohara
“The Witch” by Etta Scollo, written by Carmen Kovacs.
Music produced and engineered by Niccoló Fornabaio

Special Thanks to:

Jayne Smiley
Neil Christopher
Andrea Wiarda
Stijn Vriends
Dave Muldoon
Nina Muldoon
Liam Muldoon
Mauro Refosco
Yukio Gohara
Carmela Silvia Sanfilippo
Massimo Zhou
Yulia Gurkina
Blance Jaubert
Jacopo Marretti
Jasmine Leonardon
Hammama Chayani
Yuval Avital
Said Ramos Ponce
Umar FAROOQ
Yassine Linani

Casting

Subject to Change

Alberta Ballet Dancers

Alberta Ballet Artistic Team

Alberta Ballet Artistic Support

Lead Stage Manager | Seoyoung Park
Stage Manager | Tuled Giovanazzi
Physiotherapist | Brittney Winnitoy, Kirsten Taylor / Momentum Health
Pilates | Jo-Anne Bunbury / Calgary Pilates
Company Pianists | Marina Federov, Michael Levin, Juanita Faas,
Lorel Leal, Mary Martell, Helena Barker

Production Team

Stage Technicians provided by IATSE Local 212

Executive Producer | Malgorzata Szablowska
Assistant Technical Director Carpentry/Props/Flys | Jason McLellan
Lead Fly/Carpenter | Kevin Green
Head Props | Christina Hantos
Second Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lead Lighting | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Lead Sound and Multi-Media | Dan Plumtree
Assistant Technical Director, Wardrobe | Raegan Moore
Second Wardrobe | Lori McMahon
Second Wardrobe/Stitcher | Erin LeBaron
Cutter | Anne Nguyen

Up Next…

Forever Moved

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