CAVALLARI PREPARES FOR CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT LES GRANDS
Italian-born Ivan Cavallari has been a busy fellow these past several months as he prepares to take over the artistic direction of Quebec’s biggest dance company, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, in July.
Commuting to Montreal from France, where he is still artistic director of the Ballet du Rhin, Cavallari has been teaching class to Les Grands’ dancers, meeting with staff and looking over the downtown Wilder Building, where the company will open its new studios in June.
“There’s been lots of planning to do for 2017-18 and beyond, understanding how we’re functioning, (determining) what I’d like to keep and what to change. Every artistic director has a slightly different vision,” said Cavallari, 52, in December.
He is following a tough act. During the past 16 years, artistic director Gradimir Pankov brought the company to new heights, cultivating a local audience that now comes to each production with high expectations. Pankov and his team also spearheaded a decadelong drive to move the company’s longtime studios on St-Denis St. to downtown Bleury St. opposite Place des Arts. Cavallari has toured the Wilder Building three times, inquiring about the studios’ floor and colour scheme, and expressing satisfaction with his office and the overall architecture.
“I feel very sorry for Gradimir, who, like Moses, has brought his disciples to the (final) moment but can’t step into the Promised Land.”
At home, Les Grands typically plays to full houses, and its annual fundraising drive has reached a record high. The company nonetheless ended 2016 with a deficit.
“It’s quite normal in such a big transition to make a deficit, because we’re going into unknown territory. We’ve been discussing this in the past month, looking to create a certain revenue, talking a lot about strategy.”
Whatever the budget situation, Cavallari insisted it would not affect programming.
“We’re squeezing here and there. Any company needs to compromise, but not to the point of disappointment. We want lots of new creations not only for 2017-18, but beyond. That’s very important.”
Gregarious, multilingual and with an easy laugh, Cavallari could well become a ubiquitous figure on Montreal’s arts scene.
My wish for 2017: Here’s hoping the Wilder Building will become not only a major centre for dance production, but a public meeting place for fans to discuss and debate dance of all kinds.