FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2024
Ballet Jörgen company dancer of 13 years, Hannah Mae Cruddas, FAREWELL TOUR as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables-The Ballet® across Eastern Canada!
“Anne is coming home, and so am I! Come catch my final tour of Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet. It is with mixed emotions that I say goodbye to the company that has given me my dance career of 13 beautiful years, while dancing a character who is so special to so many of us. Celebrate with all of us here at Ballet Jörgen by attending a performance of Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet, coming to a stage near you!”
– Hannah Mae Cruddas, Company Member since 2011, Dartmouth, NS
Toronto – Atlantic Canada Ballet Jörgen’s original production Anne of Green Gables–The Ballet® is coming to Saint John, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Summerside, Prince Edward Island and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The shows will feature Dartmouth, Nova Scotia local and long-time Ballet Jörgen Company Dancer Hannah Mae Cruddas as Anne Shirley. These will be Hannah Mae’s last performances on stage before she joins Jörgen Dance’s Atlantic Council and continues with the Company in the role of Education Assistant Manager.
“Thank YOU Ballet Jorgen for this amazing program. My son came home HIGH ON THEATRE last night! As a mother of four boys in the arts, it was so good tosee male dancers who are engaged, skilled, and joyful in their craft. It will inspire my kids for years to come.” – Audience Member, Mabou, NS
“Highly recommend. I saw this and was blown away. Also, the standard of dance is excellent!”- Audience Member, Saint John, NB
“My wife and I attended the performance in Summerside. Wonderful. The company really captured the spirit of the Anne story.”– Audience Member, Summerside, PEI
This creation is monumental for the Company and enables us to present this uniquely Canadian story to communities across the country. Ballet Jörgen’s Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet® is the first time the story has been authorized for creation as a full-length ballet. This creation is made possible through the assistance of the heirs of Lucy Maud Montgomery. A full-sized symphonic ballet score has been created as an extended orchestration of the Anne of Green Gables – The Musical™ made possible through a partnership with Avonlea Productions Ltd. and Erinsharn Productions Ltd.
“Thank you for the opportunity for [my daughter] and her friends to dance with you. It was my second time watching the performance and it was absolutely enjoyable both times. [My daughter] and her friends spoke of how helpful the dancers were and they enjoyed themselves, too.”– Local Participant Parent, Moncton, NB
These performances will include over 50 aspiring young dancers from numerous dance schools across Eastern Canada performing as part of the Company’s Local Participant Program. Participants are selected through an application process and will rehearse with the company day of performance.
“We just wanted to thank everyone at Ballet Jörgen for providing such a wonderful opportunity for local dancers. Our daughter, was thrilled to take part in the show in Summerside last weekend and it was such a positive experience for her. Not only did she enjoy being a part of the production and the show itself, but the experience has inspired her to work hard towards future goals in dance. It is sure to be an experience that she will never forget, and it was very kind and generous of your company to make it possible for her and for all of the local participants. As audience members we thoroughly enjoyed Ballet Jörgen’s “Anne” and we look forward to attending when your company returns to Summerside.”– Local Participant Parent, Summerside, PEI
The tour will be accompanied by Ballet 101 Community Programming. Ballet 101s are free one-hour presentations suitable for all ages which provide opportunities to see real performances by a professional ballet company while learning about ballet as a storytelling medium.
“I cannot say how much we appreciated the performances at our school today. Staff and students have not stop talking about the interaction with students and their whole body engagement. The presentation was an ideal blend between some information about their body positions/warm up, what they wear and how music, props and expression add to the dance, the involvement of students in a piece and allowing them to be creative in choreographing a piece. Wonderful!”
– Ballet 101 Kingsclear Consolidated School, Fredericton, NB
Ballet Jörgen is committed to making the arts accessible to all Canadians and delivers programming in all 10 provinces.
The National Tour is made possible by BMO Financial Group. The Atlantic Canada Local Participant Program is made possible by TD. Nationwide Dance for All programming is made possible by the Azrieli Foundation. The Apprentice Program is made possible by RBC and RBC Foundation. The Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Programming is made possible by The River Philip Foundation. Anne of Green Gables–The Ballet® National Tour Front of House Sponsor is Tourism Prince Edward Island.
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Ongoing critical support is provided by The Ontario Arts Council, The Canada Council for the Arts and Toronto Arts Council.
About Jörgen Dance
For 35 years Jörgen Dance has brought the joy of dance to countless individuals, families, and communities across Canada and beyond. While we are firmly rooted in our history as an exceptional professional ballet company, we have grown to be so much more! Today we offer a wide range of training and community programs across many dance styles to ensure dance is truly accessible for all Canadians. Whether you are looking to attend a performance, learn to dance, or engage with the arts for the first time; there is something for you under the Jörgen Dance umbrella. You will be welcomed, educated, entertained, and be a respected member of our in-person and virtual community. As an organization we genuinely believe in our motto Dance for All. Ballet Jörgen is the 2011 winner of The National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring – the first Ontario Performing Arts Organization to win this award.
For more information, photos, and/or to request an interview, contact:
Casey Spector, casey@balletjorgen.ca 416-961-4725