It took about a year and a half of planning to bring Ballet Jörgen to La Ronge. (Submitted photo/Greg Lobb)

By Derek Cornet

sleeping beauty

‘Emotion and awe’: Professional ballet dancers perform show in La Ronge

Mar 5, 2025 | 4:50 PM

Ballet Jörgen, a professional dance company based out of Toronto, entertained a sold out crowd in La Ronge on Tuesday.

Ballet Jörgen was brought to town through a partnership between the Tri-Community Dance Club and the La Ronge Arts Council. They performed a two-hour show called Sleeping Beauty in front of an audience of approximately 275 people at Churchill Community High School.

“It was so magnificent. I think people were in a mixture of emotion and awe,” said dance club chairperson Genevieve Candelora Kustiak.

“We had not only got to see these incredible dancers, who are professionals and travel all over the world, but they also included local participants. We had six dancers with the Tri-Community Dance Club that were part of the show and danced in the show alongside these professional dancers. They rehearsed Monday evening and all day Tuesday with the show and they got to make their debut last night.”

Kustiak explained it was an amazing opportunity for the community to host a professional ballet for the first time. It was made possible through financial support from the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation (Sask Lotteries), Dance Saskatchewan, La Ronge Elks Club, the municipalities of Air Ronge and La Ronge, Drifters Motel and more.

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Costs totaled $12,000 in addition to travel, accommodations and other expenses.

The show included a large number of dancers. (Submitted photo/Greg Lobb)

It was the first time a professional ballet performance was held in La Ronge. (Submitted photo/Greg Lobb)

“When they first arrived, we had two master classes they did with the Tri-Community Dance Club dancers and we had the local participant program they offered as well,” Kustiak remarked.

“That was involving some additional rehearsals with those dancers. On Tuesday in the daytime, the Churchill Community High School students were able to go and observe their rehearsals and they did a bit of a talk back as well and were able to ask questions of the dancers. They were answering questions and kind of engaging with the students a little bit.”

On Wednesday, the dancers also spent time doing Ballet 101 classes with students from Bells Point Elementary School, Gordon Denny Community School and Pre-Cam Community School.

Arts council program coordinator Connie Haugen noted planning for Ballet Jörgen to come to La Ronge began about a year and a half ago. She added it took a lot of work and it was an unreal experience for them to finally come.

“It goes to show the kids that are in that dance troupe and their families are very much invested in their children’s growth as dancers,” she said.

“A lot of them were at the event and it was very well-received.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com