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Peterson Nominated

Alberta Ballet is proud to announce the nomination of choreographer Kirk Peterson for the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse…

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release: April 8, 2008

CHOREOGRAPHER OF ALBERTA BALLET’S OTHELLO NOMINATED FOR TOP INTERNATIONAL DANCE AWARD

Alberta Ballet is proud to announce the nomination of choreographer Kirk Peterson for the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse. Mr. Peterson has been nominated for his full-length ballet, Othello, commissioned by Alberta Ballet and given its world premiere by the company in Calgary, October 25, 2007.

Alberta Ballet soloist Kelley McKinlay, who created the role of Iago, will dance the ballet’s mesmerizing opening solo at the historic Bolshoi Theatre in a May 7, 2008 gala concert honouring the nominees. The gala will include performances by dancers from such leading international companies as American Ballet Theatre, the Bolshoi and Kirov ballets, Netherlands Dance Theater and the Paris Opera Ballet.

"The entire company joins me in congratulating Kirk. His well-deserved nomination is a huge personal achievement. It also greatly enhances Alberta Ballet's reputation in Canada and abroad,” says Jean Grand-Maître, Artistic Director of Alberta Ballet. “The fact that we were able to produce and perform his Othello to such exacting international standards and to such popular and critical acclaim is a testament to Alberta Ballet’s artistic growth and marks a milestone in its evolution."

“I am of course thrilled and honoured to be nominated,” says Mr. Peterson. “This continues the wonderful experience begun by Jean Grand-Maître and is a tribute to his steadfast commitment to having me create Othello for Alberta Ballet.”

The annual Prix Benois de la Danse is named in honour of Alexandre Benois, the great Russian painter and designer who was key to the early success of Sergei Diaghilev’s legendary Ballet Russes in the early 20th century. The prize was founded in Moscow by the International Dance Association in 1991 and gained the patronage of UNESCO the following year. Prizes are awarded for outstanding individual achievement during the previous season in the categories of choreographer, female and male dancer.

Kirk Peterson’s fellow choreographer nominees include David Bintley, Artistic Director of Britain’s Birmingham Royal Ballet, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Artistic Director of Le Ballet de Monte Carlo and Ana Maria Stekelman, founder and Artistic Director of Argentina’s Tangokinesis. Previous winners in the choreography division include such luminaries as Roland Petit, Jirí Kylián, Nuacho Duarto, William Forsythe, Boris Eifman and Canada’s own Édouard Lock.

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