An epic ballet about clashes among mafia families – Vendetta

Les Grands Ballets presents

Vendetta: Storie di Mafia

Traversing the gritty streets from Chicago to Las Vegas, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa‘s latest ballet is a tempestuous saga where mafia families clash in a dance of destiny. ‘Blood calls for blood,’ they say, and Ochoa’s choreography is steeped in this vendetta.

Dancers: Anya Nesvitaylo and Marcin Kaczorowski

Evoking the shadows of West Side Story and The Godfather, the choreography guides us through the 1950s, amidst themes of power and vengeance. This ballet is a cinematic masterpiece, blending the ambiance of film noir, the energy of Music Hall, and the grandeur of Broadway.

Ochoa’s genius lies in her narrative talent that seamlessly blends the allure of cabaret with the brutality of street brawls. This ballet transcends performance to become a theatrical revelation. Ochoa shapes emotions, with each step a testament to her acclaimed mastery.

“She’s not just dancing. She transmits, with a grace coupled with a rarely seen power, the emotion necessary to the viewer to dive into this story from today, yesterday and once upon a time.” – Franco Nuovo says about d’Anya Nesvitaylo, ICI Radio Canada

The music itself is a protagonist. Ranging from dizzying waltzes to the sultry embraces of tango, from the genius of Piazzolla to the timeless Bach, each note carries the weight of the narrative. A symphony of movements, a dance of light and shadow.

Synopsis

Prologue
In a music hall, the charismatic crooner Fred Buscaglione is prepping his act. He gets a ladder to hang the letters of the title of the story that he is about to tell. The ladder is stuck in the wing and when pulling hard, 4 Angels of Death appear at the other end of the ladder. They are ominous, not amused, and are threatening to kill him. But he promises to honor them in his story called V-E-N-D-E-T-T-A.

Act I: Forbidden Love

Dancers: Anya Nesvitaylo and Marcin Kaczorowski

The curtains rise on Don Carbone, the fearsome patriarch of a powerful mafia clan in Chicago. Among his many children, his youngest daughter Rosalia shares tender bond with him, growing up amidst the brutal codes of the underworld.

At a gathering of Chicago’s three mafia families—the Carbone, the Bartoni, and the Trasi—a forbidden spark ignites between Rosalia and Stefano Bartoni, the son of a rival clan. They steal moments of passion in the shadows, their love unfolding in a dance of secrecy. But when their romance is exposed, a hush falls over the room, and guns are drawn. Stefano, understanding the rules of honor, kneels and kisses Don Carbone’s ring, formally asking for Rosalia’s hand. Against all odds, the Don gives his blessing, allowing a fragile hope for peace between the feuding families.

The Carbone estate buzzes with wedding preparations. Rosalia, surrounded by her friends, laughs joyfully, unaware of the tragedy to come. As the priest blesses their union, a man is coldly executed on a bridge. The celebration continues, brimming with dances, champagne, and music. But as the night progresses, the air thickens with tension. In the shadows, Alessio Bartoni, Stefano’s younger brother, burns with rage at being denied a favor by Don Carbone. In an act of revenge, he assassinates Rosalia’s older brother. As the festivities turn into mourning, Don Carbone watches his son’s lifeless body being carried away.

In the wake of the murder, uneasy peace settles between the families. Don Carbone and his remaining sons travel to Las Vegas, forging a lucrative casino deal. But while negotiating, Massimo Carbone—the youngest and most reckless brother—lets his rage take over, executing Enzo Bartoni in a reckless act of retribution. The mafia war reignites.

As the vendetta escalates, Don Carbone becomes a target. In a chaotic shootout, he is gunned down in the streets of Chicago, his body riddled with bullets. His loyal men rush to smuggle him away before the police arrive, but the damage is done. The era of Don Carbone is nearing its end.

Act II: The Ruthless Ascent
With Don Carbone bedridden, Rosalia—now heavily pregnant—returns to his side. In a heartbreaking farewell, she holds him as he takes his final breath. With his death, the delicate power structure collapses. The men of the family fight for control, but it is Rosalia who receives the Don’s final blessing and becomes the heir to the clan.

As tradition dictates, Rosalia’s newborn child is baptized in a grand ceremony. But behind the sacred rituals, a sinister plot unfolds. During the festivities, Rosalia notices the impetuous behavior of her younger brother, Massimo. Determined to consolidate power, Rosalia orders his assassination as his recklessness endangers the family’s future. As the guests raise their glasses in celebration, Massimo is lured outside and his throat slit. The Angels of Death, ever-watchful, silently bear witness to another fallen soul.

Having secured her dominance, Rosalia transforms into a merciless ruler. She governs not with fear alone, but with strategy and an unrelenting will.

When Stefano learns that his own brother, Alessio, was responsible for killing Don Carbone, Stefano is torn between loyalty to his family and his love for Rosalia. He confesses everything, expecting forgiveness. But in the mafia world, betrayal is unforgivable.

As the family gathers for Grandmother Carbone’s grand 65th birthday, Rosalia seals her husband’s fate. In the middle of the festivities, Alessio Bartoni is poisoned —a secret she will never confess to her husband.

Epilogue
Years later, Rosalia reigns supreme, feared and respected. She watches over her empire, her young daughter Rosa at her side—the next generation in a dynasty built on blood.

As Fred Buscaglione, the storyteller, takes his final bow, a gunshot echoes through the theater. The Angels of Death return to claim him at last. The world of the mafia remains unchanged. The vendetta never truly ends.

Tuesday, April 8 to Sunday, April 13, 2025
Théâtre Maisonneuve

To purchase your tickets, visit: www.placedesarts.com