Alberta Ballet plans second Joni Mitchell collaboration

The Alberta Ballet is teaming up for a second time with Canadian music icon Joni Mitchell on a new dance work.

The company will premiere a brand new production inspired by Mitchell's love songs in May 2014, organizers revealed on the weekend as part of the ballet's 2013-2014 season announcement.

The reclusive Mitchell will reteam with Alberta Ballet artistic director Jean Grand-Matre to create the new piece, which will feature a libretto, set design and soundtrack by the celebrated singer-songwriter.

The as-yet-untitled new Mitchell work will debut in Calgary, running May 1-3, 2014. It will then move on to Edmonton, from May 9-10, 2014.

Mitchell and Grand-Matre previously collaborated on the well-received semi-abstract narrativeballet The Fiddle and the Drum in 2007.

Its success led to other musician-inspired dance works such as Love Lies Bleedingand Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, featuring the music of Elton John and Sarah McLachlan, respectively. The company is also poised to premiere itsk.d. lang-inspired Balletlujah in May.

Other productions announced for the company's 2013-2014 season include:

• Madame Butterfly.
• Aperformance of Sleeping Beauty by visiting company Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral.
• A holiday run of The Nutcracker.
• The intimate show Up Close.
• Giselle.
• Generations, a production by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre offshoot Ailey II.