Hh11 — Ballet by the Ocean

ARCHIVE | How a Pandemic Pivot Pirouetted to Box Office Success

INTERVIEW, REVIEW, AND ILLUSTRATION BY BRANDON HICKS

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Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada has been a cultural staple in New Brunswick for over 20 years. As the largest professional performing arts organisation  in the province, its stated goal is to serve and represent dance in the Maritime provinces. Its flagship production for the summer and fall seasons, Ballet by the Ocean, looks to highlight the natural landscape of Canada’s Atlantic region. The production is presented outdoors on the Grande-Digue wetland property of co-founder Susan Chalmers-Gauvin, and features original choreography created specifically for the location by Artistic Director Igor Dobrovolskiy. In between dances, the audience is served selections from a local tasting menu developed by Chef Emmanuel Charretier. Originally emerging as a necessity in the early days of the pandemic, and in a province that is often underrepresented in the arts, Ballet by the Ocean is a poster child for the creative combination of culinary experimentation, location, and an immersive dance experience. Cannopy Magazine was on site to find out how the concept came together through conversations with the production’s key personnel. 

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The Producers: CEO Susan Chalmers-Gauvin and Artistic Director/Choreographer Igor Dobrovolskiy 

CAN | What was the experience like getting Ballet by the Ocean off of the ground in New Brunswick?