Alberta Ballet is one of Canada’s premier dance companies and grounds its artistic vision in a commitment to unparalleled productions that thrill and inspire audiences.  Its repertoire spans the full spectrum of ballet genres: from classical to neo-classical to contemporary, and its dancers are renowned for their wide-ranging versatility.   Alberta Ballet selects dancers who demonstrate a strong classical foundation and are passionate about working in varied repertoire.  This combination sets the troupe apart as one that is uniquely primed for vanguard exploration of artistic expression in dance. The company includes dancers who trained directly with Alberta Ballet School as well as talent from around the world.    Alberta Ballet caught the world’s attention with its portrait ballets – collaborations with popular music icons including Joni Mitchell, Sir Elton John, Sarah McLachlan, The Tragically Hip and k.d. lang. This signature series of neo-classical theatre ballet explores the ethos of popular contemporary musicians.  The portrait ballet series has been hailed as an innovative way to connect new audiences to ballet.     The company performs its full season in each of Alberta’s two major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, and is currently focusing on new creations that attract both classical and contemporary fans.