SABRINA MATTHEWS
Commissioned Choreographer

Sabrina Matthews is a graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada in which she attended from 1987 to 1995. A native of Toronto, Ontario her transition to Alberta Ballet was seamless. Her years from 1995-2005 with Alberta Ballet afforded her the opportunity to work with such artistic directors as Jean Grand-Maitre, Mikko Nissinen and Ali Pourfarrokh

Retiring from Alberta Ballet in 2005, Ms. Matthews’ was one of the Company’s leading soloists and aspiring choreographers. Leading roles were created for her in such ballets as Carmen, Cinderella, and Dangerous Liaisons.

Ms. Matthews’ choreographic career began in 1999 under the direction of Mikko Nissinen. Since then she has been commissioned to create works for various national and international organizations.

Her portfolio also includes choreography and dance for film, creating for The New York Choreographic Institute and dancing alongside Veronica Tennant in her 2005 production of “Carmen La Gitana”

Her work has been recognized publicly with several Canadian awards: the Peter Dwyer award for excellence in dance, 2005; Clifford E. Lee Award 2005, in which she created “losing ground” for the Banff Center; and her piece “Dance to This” 2001, a Bravo! Fact Film was nominated for an AMPIA award.

Ms. Matthews’ works have been toured to prestigious National and International festivals. Her piece “unbound” premiered at the first Beijing International Dance Festival. Her acclaimed piece “Rodin” 2005 was featured at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum as part of the Rodin Exhibition.

Ms Matthews, invited by Artistic Director Reid Anderson, attended the “Noverre Society” 2006 workshop at Stuttgart Ballet. Her work “soles” earned rave reviews among the German critics and has been taken into Stuttgart’s repertoire. Ms. Matthews will be returning to Stuttgart Ballet to create a new work for the company’s 2007/2008 season.

In September 2006 Ms. Matthews was pleased to attend The National Ballet of Canada’s choreographic lab. Her work “clearing’ was a favorite among critics and Artistic Director Karen Kain has included the work into the company’s repertoire. Matthews was also asked to create a new work for the Canadian contestants in the prestigious Erik Bruhn competition in March 2007, held in Toronto and will choreograph a new work for the company’s 2008/2009 season.

Most recently she is engaged with Boston Ballet and will be creating a new work with the Royal Swedish Ballet in 2008.