This Spring Albertan’s will be treated to an interpretation of the classic tale of Carmen. Alberta Ballet’s Yukichi Hattori brings his vision of the provocative gypsy to life in this world-premiere event. The experience is complete with the Alberta Ballet premiere of Jirí Kylián's modern masterpiece Forgotten Land. This event marks the first time both Hottori’s Carmen and Kylián’s Forgotten Land are performed on one stage together.

Hattori, choreographer of Carmen eagerly awaits the unveiling of what is sure to be a theatrical and memorable performance for fans of the classic story and ballet enthusiasts alike. Hottori is thrilled to see his creative dream come to life.

"Carmen is a piece that blends classical and contemporary dance in a most effective way. The different styles describe different moods and characters, creating a surreal world while telling the story very clearly. I am taking a new angle on the classic story by portraying Carmen as a woman who is ahead of her time," shares Hottori. "Her ambition knows no limits, but is held back by the male dominated society. She has no choice but to use everything she has got to try to achieve her goal. It is very important to reimagine a classic tale to reflect the ever-changing present. It is just like parents telling a bedtime story to their kids. It takes a different shape each time the story is told, keeping it interesting and relevant. However, some essence of the story never changes."

The strong and empowered women he has met in his day-to-day life inspired Hattori’s vision of Carmen. Women still face struggles for equality and rights in different areas of the world, therefore Prosper Merime’s Carmen remains a woman we can all relate to. Her story and struggle is timeless and will continue pulling the heartstrings of audiences for generations to come.

Accompanying Carmen is Kylián’s Forgotten Land. A piece created by one of the best choreographers in history, Jiri Kylián. Hottori is very excited for this additional piece, which shockingly has never been performed by the Alberta Ballet previously. This piece was created in 1974, but still remains contemporary and fresh today.

Most people are familiar with the opera score and interpretation of Carmen. Hottori chose to go back to the original tale as written by Merime. He hopes, after seeing this ballet, people will be inspired to read the novel and find out what Carmen represents for them.