Citie Ballet
Citie Ballet is Edmonton's resident, professional ballet company. Each season, it mounts a vibrant program of neoclassical ballet and modern and contemporary dance over the span of three productions. Under artistic director François Chevennement, the company commissions original works and collaborates with various arts groups. Citie Ballet also stays true to its roots by remounting and reimagining classical ballets.
Artistic Director
François Chevennement is a native of Dijon, France, who trained at the National Conservatory of Dance in Avignon, before beginning his professional career with Opera Avignon.
He was a principal dancer with France's Ballet du Nord and Alberta Ballet, performing both principal and soloist roles in many of the great classical ballets, as well as in the major works of such contemporary choreographers as George Balanchine, John Butler, Paul Taylor and José Limon.
Mr. Chevennement launched his teaching career in France, receiving his state diploma as a teacher of classical dance there in 1994. Since retiring from the stage, he has taught students and professionals at Alberta Ballet, the International School of Ballet (Calgary), L'école superieure de ballet contemporain (Montreal) and at numerous schools in Edmonton and area. He became the artistic director of Citie Ballet in 2006.
During his time at Citie Ballet he has already choreographed numerous innovative new works for the company, including Woman In a Mirror (dance and poetry), Convergence (ballet meets jazz), Once Upon a Pond (a satirical take on Swan Lake), Carmen (new contemporary work with guitars), and Murder at the Strand (ballet and murder mystery). Throughout the same period, he has also choreographed for many local dance companies, including Free Fall Dance, Shumka Dancers, Orchesis and Chameleon Dance Edmonton.