Moscow's Bolshoi puts focus on Canadian choreographer

Canadian choreographer Peter Quanz is going to be feted at the Bolshoi next month.

Montreal'sLes Grands Ballets Canadiens said the Oct. 11 event will mark the first time the legendary Moscow theatre,recently refurbished,has dedicated an entire program to the work of a Canadian choreographer.

Performed by the Buryatian National Ballet, one of Russia's regional ballet troupes,the program features three works by Quanz, a 32-year-old native of Baden, Ont.

Two days later, Rodin/Claudel, Quanz's new creation about the romance between Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, will kick off Les Grands Ballets' season in Montreal.

"It's a tremendous honour to have my work shown at the Bolshoi," Quanz said in a statement released by Les Grands Ballets on Wednesday.

"I have grown enormously as an artist through my collaboration with the amazing dancers of the Buryatian National Ballet and the entire experience has been deeply rewarding."

The alumnus of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School was the first Canadian to create choreography for Saint Petersburg's Kirov Ballet.

He has also collaborated with the American Ballet Theatre, Britain's Royal Ballet and the National Ballet of Cuba.

In November his new work, Luminous, will be performed by the Hong Kong Ballet before entering the repertoire of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.