Joni Mitchell's ballet sparks worldwide attention

EDMONTON - The reclusive Joni Mitchell, singer-songwriter, environmentalist, painter and icon for a generation, is dancing up a storm of interest over her latest creation -- a ballet set to her own music and artwork.

Mitchell has joined with the Alberta Ballet Company to produce "The Fiddle and The Drum,'' which will be performed over five dates between Calgary and Edmonton next month.

Since dance rehearsals began two months ago, calls for interviews have been ringing in from all over the world.

"We never expected anything like this,'' said Jean Grande-Maitre, the ballet's artistic director.

"We're seeing interest in the creation of a ballet unlike anything we've ever seen in the history of the company, actually.''

Interest is so high, he said, that both the Sunday Times in London and the New York Times are publishing feature-length articles on the production.

The BBC has expressed interest in sending a camera crew to film the event, and Bravo, the specialty arts channel, will broadcast the performance at a later date on cable TV.

Grande-Maitre has also received calls from the British tabloid HELLO!, a daily newspaper in Germany, several arts magazines scattered across Europe, and a few dozen radio stations and newspapers from all across Canada and the U.S.

For the small-market ballet company, which produces only five shows a year, it's been a bit overwhelming.

For Mitchell, who will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on Jan. 28, it's even more daunting because it's her big debut after years away from the public eye.

"Whenever she comes out (into public) it's like suddenly everybody goes after her and she gets overwhelmed by it,'' he said.

"She's not always the most comfortable person with the media.''

Mitchell's agent said she's cut the cord on media requests for the time being. She's too focused on final preparations and won't speak about the ballet until a week before the grand opening.

The ballet is 48 minutes long and will feature nine songs from Mitchell's musical repertoire. The production is centred on environmental issues and world violence, stretching from the Vietnam War to the present day.

Grande-Maitre wrote to Mitchell nearly a year ago, asking her to consider working on the project.

"I was more interested in collaboration than just getting the rights to use her music,'' he explained.

"Joni Mitchell has always loved ballet and dance, and being involved in this way interested her a lot.''

It's a production that gives Mitchell, responsible for such radio hits as "Big Yellow Taxi,'' and "Both Sides Now,'' a chance to combine her various artistic endeavours into one setting.

She has led a side-career as a painter since the '80s, but has rarely shown her artwork publicly and has never placed it up for sale.

Now she has spent at least 100 hours on the ballet, creating a video installation that will be projected on large screens above the dancers.

"The fusion of art forms from her music to the visual arts and dance is so interesting to see,'' he said.

"It was an idea that started with a little bit of talk, and it's blossomed into this wonderful project that is getting such international attention.''