reviewvancouver: Love Lies Bleeding

The captivating performance of Love Lies Bleeding by Alberta Ballet at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver has left a sparkling memory in the local dance community.

Part of the mystique and power of the ballet was the memorable music of Sir Elton John which delightfully permeated the entire musical score. Truly, this was a winning duo!

Alberta Ballet, led by innovative artistic director, Jean Grand-Maitre, is a youthful, energetic and expressive company of dancers that has earned a stellar reputation in dance circles. It is a company to watch.
Grand-Maitre, who has been at the artistic helm of Alberta Ballet since 2002, has created works for some of the world’s most illustrious companies including: Opera National de Paris, Ballet Jorgen and the Teatro alla Scala.

The moving and captivating music of Elton John was an impressive theme for this ballet. John has 35 gold and 25 platinum albums to his credit, five Grammy awards as well as induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

Love Lies Bleeding was essentially a biographical walk through the life of Elton John. The performance included: Bennie and the Jets, I’m Gonna be a Teenage Idol; Honky Cat; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; Rocket Man; Madman Across the Water; Have Mercy on the Criminal; Sixty Years On; I Need You to Turn To; The King Must Die; Someone Saved My Life Tonight; Believe; The Bridge; Saturday Might’s Alright for Fighting.

Lead dancer Yukichi Hattori danced in every piece, an astonishing and energetic feat of dance artistry. Hattori began his dance training in Tokyo before moving to the Hamburg Ballet. In 2005, he joined Alberta Ballet. Hattori is an expressive, lithe and colorful dancer who masters dance movement with grace and power.

Hattori, the company dancers, choreographer Grand-Maitre and certainly Elton John were deserving recipients of the enthusiastic standing ovation.