Elton John’s music and life inspire ballet

Dancers have performed to Billy Joel on Broadway, Cirque du Soleil dances an Elvis show in Las Vegas, The Alberta Ballet of Calgary is touring with a Joni Mitchell ballet and now its choreographer, Jean Grand-Maître, has created a ballet that tells Elton John's story, called
Love Lies Bleeding.

The "Both Sides Now" piece from Grand-Maître's work with Joni Mitchell's "The Fiddle and the Drum" dance sequence was performed during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Games. Elton John's show will run May 6-8 in Calgary and May 11-12 in Edmonton. Tickets go on sale March 1.

Love Lies Bleeding is described as a contemporary semi-abstract ballet set to 14 classic songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The theatrical dances portray the narrative of the performer's life, from a young boy outside London to a man never meant to be a superstar.

Grand-Maître, the Quebec-born artistic director of Alberta Ballet, has worked for a year on the project with a design team as well as John, who approached the company on Mitchell's recommendation.

Set in a vast, dark and abandoned theater littered with mementos, artifacts and the remembrances, the ballet depicts dramatic landscapes from Elton's cycle. The choreographer blended Bob Fosse-inspired jazz-style dancing with classical ballet en pointe, urban hip-hop, rollerblading, and Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics.

The "Bennie and the Jets" number, features dancers in sequinned baseball uniforms and a spinning record that serves as a revolving stage depicting John's 1975 mega-concert at Dodger Stadium. "Have Mercy on the Criminal" views John's struggles with drug addiction and coming out. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" shows John battling his demons with a soft-shoe tap sequence with men in heels.

Elton John plans to attend the May premiere and a worldwide tour is expected to follow.

http://www.albertaballet.com

RC