Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal (GBCM) is a ballet company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A creative and repertory company, it performs works that reflect the diverse trends of contemporary ballet.

History
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal was founded in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff. Conductor and composer Michel Perrault served as the organization's first music director.

Since its creation, Les Grands Ballets has performed a broad range of dance, ranging from classics to major contemporary work. Under the direction of Chiriaeff and Fernand Nault (1965–1973), Brian Macdonald (1974–1977) and Lawrence Rhodes (1990–1999), the institution fostered the development of such notable artists as James Kudelka, Édouard Lock and Ginette Laurin.

In 2000, Gradimir Pankov became Artistic Director. A native of Macedonia, Pankov previously served as Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans Theater II (Netherlands), the National Ballet of Finland (Helsinki), the Cullberg Ballet (Sweden), and Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève (Switzerland).

In 2017, Ivan Cavallari became the artistic director of les Grands Ballets. Born in Italy, he trained at Teatro Alla Scalla Ballet School in Milan. Before becoming artistic director of les Grands Ballets, he was artistic director of the West Australian Ballet and then the Ballet de l’Opéra national du Rhin. Since 1986, Pierre Lapointe, a Quebec native and a graduate of l'École supérieure de ballet du Québec, is the Principal Ballet Master. 

The company has commissioned work from some of the world's most prominent choreographers: The Queen of Spades by Kim Brandstrup; The Butterfly Effect by Shawn Hounsell;  Between Ashes and Angels by Adam Hougland; Noces, Cinderella and The Rite of Spring by Stijn Celis; The Little Prince, Possibly Six and TooT by Didy Veldman;  The Beast and the Beauty by Kader Belarbi;  Four Seasons by Mauro Bigonzetti; Minus One and Danz by Ohad Naharin; Rodin/Claudel by Peter Quanz; and Re–II by Shen Wei.

Its repertoire also includes major acquisitions by such artists as Mats Ek, Jiří Kylián, Jean-Christophe Maillot and Christopher Wheeldon, along with works by young creators like Stephan Thoss, Didy Veldman and Peter Quanz. In 2008 Gradimir Pankov established the national choreographic contest, won by Jean-Sébastien Couture, which has allowed Les Grands Ballets to showcase work by emerging Canadian choreographers.

Each season, Les Grands Ballets invites international companies to perform as part of its program; the list includes Houston Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater, Cullberg Ballet (Sweden), Compañía Nacional de Danza (Spain), Warsaw Ballet (Poland), Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (Taiwan), Shen Wei Dance Arts (New York City), Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon (France), Dutch National Ballet and Eifman Ballet Theatre of St-Petersburg (Russia).

Dancers

Dancers for the 2012-2013 season:

First soloists
 Marcin Kaczorowski

 Émilie Durville

 Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya

 Hervé Courtain

 Jeremy Raia

 André Silva

 Edi Blloshmi

Soloists

 Robin Mathes

 Aline Schürger

 Jean-Sébastien Couture

 Robert Deskins

 Jérémy Galdeano

Demi-soloists

 Sam Colby

 Mahomi Endoh

 Emma Garau Cima

 Marie-Eve Lapointe

 Valentine Legat

 Graziella Lorriaux

 Sahra Maira

 Bryna Catherine Pascoe

 Alisia Pobega

 Annie Jean Shreffler

 Yadil Suarez Llerena

 Kenji Matsuyama Ribeiro

Corps de ballet

 Sarah Kingston

 Eva Kolarova

 Éline Malègue

 Rubén Julliard

 Tetyana Martyanova

 Hamilton Nieh

 Stephen Satterfield

 Andrew Skeels

 Julie Turcotte

 Hikota Taira

 Giulia Vennari

Apprentice

 Chen Sheng

Former principal dancer

 Rachel Rufer (2000-2010)
 Geneviève Guérard (1999-2006)

Former soloists

 Lénaïg Guégan (2007-2010)

 Isabelle Paquette (2001-2010)

 Guillaume Pruneau (2002-2010)