Yesterday, a young ballerina by the name of Ludmilla Chiriaeff, the daughter of Russian immigrants, left Berlin and settled in Montreal to fulfill her dream: to teach and share her love for dance. In 1957, she who we called Madame Chiriaeff, created Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the very first professional ballet company in Quebec.
Today, the heart of Montreal beats to the rhythm of dance.
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal has become a world-renowned creation, production and performance company, dedicated to the development of ballet in all its forms, while remaining faithful to the spirit of classical technique. It connects with audiences at home and abroad, spurring discovery, stirring emotion, stimulating the imagination and conveying the passion for dance.
Les Grands Ballets strives for excellence and embodies openness, creativity and audacity in an inspired vision of society.
The company is also strongly commitmed to the local community. Since 1997, The Nutcracker Fund for Children has given thousands of children from disadvantaged communities an unforgettable holiday season, with educational workshops and a free performance of The Nutcracker. In 2010, Les Grands Ballets launched The Nutcracker Market—Montreal’s first non-profit Christmas market—to raise money for the Fund.
Les Grands Ballets is also involved in a number of large-scale projects, in particular the National Centre for Dance Therapy, launched in 2013, and Les Studios, launched in 2017. Also in 2017, the company relocated to its new premises, the Édifice Wilder : Espace danse, in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles, a unique creative crossroads. All of these initiatives have one goal: Moving the world. Differently.
The Nutcracker Family
Bringing together The Nutcracker show with The Nutcracker Market and The Nutcracker Fund for Children initiatives, The Nutcracker Family is at the heart of Les Grands Ballets' holiday tradition.
National Centre for Dance Therapy
A unique initiative in the world, the NCDT's activities are at the forefront of research, training and services offered in adapted dance and dance therapy.
Les Studios
Everyone is invited to get moving with Les Grands Ballets! Les Studios offers dance, fitness and adapted dance classes for all in the company's new studios located in the heart of downtown Montreal.
Édifice Wilder
Inaugurated in September 2017, the Édifice Wilder is Les Grands Ballets new home overlooking the place des Festivals, steps away from the Place des Arts, in the heart of Montreal's Quartier des spectacles.
