Helen Husak will perform at Dancers’ Studio West as part of the artist-in-residence series, October 25 to 27

Calgary’s dance scene is vibrant with diverse and engaging performances this coming season. Calgarians will have the luxury of choosing from local and international performances ranging from Alberta Ballet’s acclaimed Dangerous Liaisons and W&M Physical Theatre’s new creation of Five Elements of Intimacy to Ireland’s spectacular Riverdance and Finn’s choreographer Pirjo Yli-Maunula’s Self Portrait.

BALLET BLAST
This year, its 41st, Alberta Ballet will feature delightful and stirring showpieces. The season kicks off with an old-time classic, Giselle, performed by The National Ballet of Canada (September 13 to 15). It’s followed by a new ballet, Othello, created for the company by choreographer Kirk Peterson from American Ballet Theatre (October 25 to 27). This holiday season will see the last performance of Miko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker (December 19 to 23), which will include a few surprise guest appearances. The new year will bring Jean Grand-Maître’s acclaimed Dangerous Liaisons (February 7 to 9) to the stage, followed by his grand finale, a new creation (Mozart’s Requiem, March 27 to 29) that will bring together Alberta Ballet’s 26 dancers and a choir of more than 100 voices. Visit www.albertaballet.com for more info.

FLAMENCO FABULOSO
Fineza Flamenca Dance School’s Annette Morcos has collaborated with renowned dancers, singers and musicians worldwide. She brings strength and pizzazz to her flamenco dancing and singing.
    The company presents a journey into the roots of Flamenco, Raices, on November 16 at the University of Calgary. This performance will narrate the story of flamenco by exploring its Spanish, Gypsy and Indian influences. This live performance will focus on the interplay between dancers, singers and live musicians, who will perform using authentic flamenco guitars, as well as other traditional instruments. Visit www.flamencocalgary.com/flamenco for more information.

BLUE COLLAR BOUNCIN’
The Blue Collar Dance Company offers an intelligent, contemporary, urban dance repertoire peppered with humour. The company kick-starts its season with the popular Slammenberry Jam event (October 4 to 6), Calgary’s Hip Hop Festival featuring 4everfresh, Original Rudes, Malfunktion and Exzam. On April 29, 2008, the company will host the International Dance Day Celebrations over the noon hour at the Devonian Gardens (TD Square). Through its community outreach program, The Blue Collar Dance Company also offers free rehearsal and performance space for emerging dance-based artists. Visit www.bluecollardance.com for more information.

GOING WEST
Dancers’ Studio West is always exploring new forms of physical expression. The contemporary dance company experiments with and fuses various styles of movement.
    The company is gearing up for a high-energy season. The Studio is co-presenting a show with TRIP Dance (October 18 to 20), a Vancouver-based company that has a unique and dynamic style. The following week (October 25 to 27), the artist-in-residence performance will feature new creations by choreographers Helen Husak and Julia Gutsik. If you like to dance, join DSW on November 20 for its Christmas Cabaret Fundraiser. In the new year, a three-week festival, Alberta Dance Explosions (February 7 to 23), will offer 10 new works each week by emerging choreographers, fusing a gamut of styles from urban movement to belly-dancing. Dancers’ Studio West is also bringing Montreal’s acclaimed Rubberbandance (May 2 to 3) performers to its studios for an intimate experience of this company’s phenomenal urban style dance. Visit www.dswlive.ca for more information.

GETTING IN THE GROOVE
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks incorporates the spirit and traditions of jazz through its distinct repertoire that mixes groove, African roots, rhythm and improvization.
    The company starts its season with its 15th annual Dance Class Marathon on October 14. In 2008, the company jumps onstage with Wow and Flutter (January 31 to February 10), a showpiece that combines wild landscapes, strange characters, video games and fish tanks. If you missed the dance marathon in October, you can get down and shake those hips at Possessed (March 1), a fundraising party that gets you dancing with DJD’s performing dancers. DJD’s new creation Tinge and Tone will be onstage from June 5 to 14, followed by its gala performance (date TBA) that will feature the talents of DJD dancers, five choreographers and a live classic-jazz quintet. Visit www.decidedlyjazz.com for more information.

SWANS OVER MOSCOW
Moscow Ballet is coming to Calgary with one of the most enchanting classical ballets ever created, Swan Lake (Jubilee Auditorium, November 19 to 20). Moscow Ballet's Swan Lake was created by director and choreographer Anatoli Emelianov specifically for North American audiences. Visit www.ticketmaster.ca for tickets.

GOING DOWN THE RIVER
Riverdance, the spectacular production celebrating Irish music, song and dance, is coming to Calgary’s Jubilee Auditorium next year from February 12 to 17. This thrilling and engaging production is guaranteed fun for families and a great show for people of all ages — and don’t forget the tap dancing. Visit www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca for more information.

THE RITE OF DANCE
Theatre Junction will host acclaimed Quebec choreographer Marie Chouinard, one of the world’s leading contemporary choreographers, to set The Rite of Spring and Prelude to the Afternoon (May 6 to 10, 2008) on its stage. Visit www.theatrejunction.com for more information.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Every first Thursday of every month, from October 2007 to April 2008, student dancers from the University of Calgary’s Urban Dance Project will perform for free at the Calgary Arts Gallery over the lunch hour, from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Evening performances are to be announced. Visit www.finearts.ucalgary.ca/dance/urban-dance.html for more information.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL
W&M Physical Theatre invites everyone to dance their heart out at its season launch party on September 21. The first production to appear onstage, Just Poprestu (November 2007), is a solo work by choreographer Wojciech Mochniej. Informal showings by Surge Company (December 2007 and April 2008) will feature the works of emerging artists between the ages of 15 and 20. February 2008 brings two renowned European artists to Calgary with the solo work of choreographer Pirjo Yli-Maunula (Finland), performing Self Portrait, and choreographer Christine Fricker (France) with the dancers of Maison de la Danse (France). The company will also perform Revive that same month. In March of 2008, a new initiative by Eko Dance, Calgary Dance Cooperative, will provide rehearsal and performing space to emerging and professional artists. The season will end with its annual fundraiser, Raise the Roof and new works for five solo female dancers, Five Elements of Intimacy (April 2008), choreographed by Wojciech Mochniej. Dates for all shows are to be determined. Visit www.ekodance.com for more information.