A beloved Canadian novel comes to dancing life in Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet where, for first time ever, Canada’s Ballet Jörgen adapts the treasured story of a plucky red-headed orphan for the ballet stage on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.
A surge of girl power comes to CPAC for the Vancouver Island premiere of this dance adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved children’s classic.
“Anne is a very bright and energetic character and it lends itself very well to the vibrant world of dance,” says CVRD Arts and Culture Manager Kirsten Schrader. “I don’t think you could find a better character to put into dance, and this colourful and exciting production is bound to re-introduce this classic story in a whole new medium.”
Set to a full-sized symphonic ballet score arranged from Anne of Green Gables – The Musical, composed by Norman Campbell, with original choreography by Bengt Jörgen, this performance will delight audiences of all ages.
Featuring 20 dancers from around the world, this is the largest tour in the Canadian company’s history.
The story of the plucky, red-haired orphan Anne, who is sent to live on a farm in the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, is presented through 22 engaging dance scenes, where Lucy Maud Montgomery’s iconic title character changes the lives of all around her.
The novel has been adapted numerous times — Canadians who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s will remember Megan Follows’s performance in the title role. Prince Edward Island has been running a musical version for a staggering 55 consecutive summers and CBC and Netflix’s Anne with an E is in its third season.
Family conversations following this ballet would be wonderful to hear, as children discuss how their schools and lives compare to Anne’s, and wonder how things might have been different if she had less of a temper.
This enchanting evening is bound to be an unforgettable experience for the whole family, and a chance to rediscover one of Canada’s most beloved characters in a new way, CPAC says.
