The Board of Directors of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens announces the extension of Artistic Director Ivan Cavallari’s term through June 2028.
After over ten years at the artistic helm of the Company, Ivan Cavallari has informed the Board of Directors of his wish to hand over the reins. His second five-year term will be extended by one year, at the end of which he will step down as Artistic Director. This time will allow for a smooth transition, building on the work already accomplished. Ivan Cavallari will therefore continue to lead the artistic staff until June 2028 and will curate the programming for the 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 seasons, in addition to seeing the current season through.
Ivan Cavallari, who took office in 2017, oversaw the Grands Ballets’ move into their new home, the Wilder Building – Espace Danse, in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles. By settling into a space devoted to the creation, production, and development of dance, the institution began a new chapter in its history. That same year also marked a turning point in its programming.
Ivan Cavallari championed a clear vision: that the Company fully embrace its role as a major ballet company for its city and its country, with a repertoire broad enough to bring back the great classics while giving more space to contemporary works and emerging talent.
“Ivan has transformed Les Grands Ballets. He leaves us with a company that is both more ambitious and more daring, yet closer to its audience. His choreographic work and his contribution to the growth of our repertoire, our artists, and our audiences are already exceptional, and it is with deep gratitude that we move forward to the next phase. We are fortunate to be able to count on him for the coming seasons, and we fully intend to make the most of this time, together with him and the artists. This extension also gives us the time to do things right: to ensure a smooth transition and to find the best person to carry this momentum forward. The Board of Directors will begin this process in the coming weeks,” said Maurice Côté, Chair of the Board of Directors of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.
Under Ivan Cavallari's direction, the company has grown steadily, expanding from 35 to 48 dancers, many of whom trained at the country's leading schools, such as the École supérieure de ballet du Québec. This growth has allowed the Company to increase the number of annual productions by more than 50%, expand its repertoire, and present larger-scale works. Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and The Lake have thus been added to the Grands Ballets’ repertoire, providing dancers with the opportunity to take on these significant works and introduce them to new generations.
Ivan Cavallari has drawn leading international choreographers to Les Grands Ballets, among them Marcia Haydée, Étienne Béchard, Marcos Morau, Edward Clug, Cathy Marston, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. He has also given carte blanche to several local choreographers: Hélène Blackburn (Fête sauvage), Édouard Lock (Echo), Anne Plamondon (Ma Saudade), Andrew Skeels (Requiem), Peter Quanz (La Dame aux Camélias), Lesley Telford (Beguile), Kirsten Céré (Déséquilibre délectable), and, more recently, Guillaume Côté (Midsummer Night Dreams). Within the company’s own ranks, he has fostered emerging choreographic talent, including that of principal dancer Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya (Du Soleil à la Lune), Étienne Gagnon Delorme (Podium), Kiara Flavin (Vagues), and André Santos (Alice in Wonderland).
This remarkable artistic achievement came about despite the upheavals caused by the pandemic. Thanks to the loyalty of their audiences and the ongoing support of their partners and donors, Les Grands Ballets are now seeing significantly higher attendance, in Montreal and across the country, than before the health crisis. The Company therefore enters this transition with a sound financial position and a solid organizational foundation.
“I am already proud of how far we’ve come together, the artists, the team, and myself. While I have chosen to conclude my term in the spring of 2028, I am thrilled to bring the upcoming seasons to life and to keep working alongside such passionate people. There are still so many projects to carry out with the Company’s teams and our artistic and philanthropic community, to whom I am truly grateful!” said Ivan Cavallari, Artistic Director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.
