Our first tour of 2017 begins today with community events in Regina. We will drive down to Saskatoon for more outreach programs this weekend, and then fly to BC for 3 Swan Lake performances next week. This West Coast tour will include 11 performances in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan and Wyoming, USA.
We will be home in five weeks, but only for a short while! In the last week of March, we begin our East Coast Tour to New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and PEI. As you may know, my Swan Lake is inspired by the picturesque seascape of the Louisbourg Fortress in Nova Scotia, and it is always special to perform this production in Atlantic Canada. This tour will be the first time our Swan Lake is performed in Newfoundland.
I would like to take a moment here to thank everyone who lend us their support. Both tours are funded primarily by the Canada Council for the Arts, with assistance from the Ontario Arts Council. We are also indebted to the generosity of our National Presenting Partner BMO Financial Group, and the Aeroplan Member Donation program. Additional support for The Newfoundland Tour is provided through a partnership with The Arts and Culture Centre, with gifts from The Honorable Margaret Norrie McCain, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Martha Hogarth. The tour also won over 12,000 votes in a nation-wide contest held by The Aviva Community Fund, making our tour the first performing arts project to be supported by the fund since 2011. The Newfoundland community has inspired an outpour of support from dance lovers across the country, and we are humbled by the response.
We are blessed to have friends and supporters who share in the company’s vision. With your help, we are connecting communities with the magic of ballet. I look forward to sharing with you our stories from the road – see you at the theatre soon.
Sincerely,
Bengt Jörgen
Artistic Director & CEO