Artistic Director Michael Pappalardo Discusses Canyon Concert Ballet’s New Alice in Wonderland and Its Long-Awaited Journey to the Stage
Canyon Concert Ballet’s upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland marks a deeply personal and long-awaited milestone for me, both as an artist and as a storyteller. This ballet has been living in my imagination for many years, evolving, shifting, and growing alongside my own artistic journey, and I am incredibly excited to finally bring it to the stage.
What makes this production especially thrilling is the opportunity to collaborate on a completely new original score by Andrew Hill. From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Andrew shared a vision for Alice that was both whimsical and emotionally grounded. His music captures the magic, unpredictability, and underlying poignancy of Lewis Carroll’s world in a way that feels fresh and cinematic. It gives the dancers a rich landscape to inhabit, full of texture, nuance, and momentum—and elevates the storytelling in ways I could only have hoped for.
Equally inspiring are the stunning new sets by Zhanna Gurvich. Zhanna has created a visual world that feels both fantastical and immersive, drawing the audience directly into Alice’s journey. There is a sense of scale and imagination in her designs that allows each scene to unfold like a living storybook, while still leaving room for the dancers and choreography to breathe. Together, the score and the design form a vibrant framework that supports and enhances every moment on stage.
This production has truly been years in the making. Alice in Wonderland is a story I have always loved, not just for its charm and eccentricity, but for its deeper themes of identity, curiosity, and transformation. Alice’s journey resonates on many levels: the search for self, the challenge of navigating a world that doesn’t always make sense, and the courage to keep moving forward despite uncertainty. These are ideas that feel incredibly relevant, and ones I have been eager to explore through dance.
Bringing this ballet to life with Canyon Concert Ballet is particularly meaningful. Our dancers have embraced the complexity and playfulness of the work with incredible dedication, and it has been a joy to watch them develop these characters and relationships in the studio. There is a real sense of ownership and excitement within the company, and I believe that energy will be felt by our audiences.
At its heart, this Alice in Wonderland is a celebration of imagination, of stepping into the unknown and discovering something unexpected along the way. I couldn’t be more excited to share this production, and I am deeply grateful to be collaborating with such extraordinary artists to finally bring this vision to life.
