MAD HOT BALLET Raises Over $1.3 Million

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights raised over $1.3 million. The annual fundraising gala took place last night in Toronto at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The gala evening celebrated Canada's sesquicentennial and honoured Canadian dance luminaries Veronica Tennant, Evelyn Hart, Frank Augustyn and Artist-In-Residence Rex Harrington. Legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov joined the festivities as a special guest. Also honoured at the event was Greta Hodgkinson who marked her 25th year with the company as well as her 20th anniversary as a Principal Dancer this season and Principal Dancer Xiao Nan Yu who celebrates her 20th anniversary this year.

Ms. Hodgkinson performed Ji?í Kylián's Nuages with Guest Artist Marcelo Gomes, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre. Ms. Yu danced in the world premiere of Choreographic Associate Robert Binet's The Sea Above, The Sky Below with fellow Principal Dancer Harrison James and Corps de Ballet member Félix Paquet, with costumes by Canadian fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu.

The gala performance also featured Principal Dancer Sonia Rodriguez and First Soloist Skylar Campbell in Tarantella, Principal Dancers Elena Lobsanova and Naoya Ebe in a pas de deux from Coppélia, Principal Dancer Jurgita Dronina and First Soloist Francesco Gabriele Frola in a pas de deux from Le Corsaire and the company premiere of Surge by Mr. Binet, performed by 14 students from Canada's National Ballet School.

Following the performance, 1,926 attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception in the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room with signature cocktails and ribbon art by rhythmic gymnasts. The 650 gala dinner guests took their places onstage for a gourmet meal prepared by Executive Chef Sash Simpson of Mark McEwan's North 44 Caters and concluded the evening with a night of dancing onstage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with Artists of the Ballet.

Featured during the evening was a silent auction including such prizes as a chance to join the company on tour in Paris, France, dinner with Ms. Kain and Executive Director Barry Hughson and other prizes from Royal de Versailles, Porter Airlines and Hilton Toronto.

The gala event was sponsored by CIBC once again, continuing their 11-year support of the gala and the company.

This year's gala co-chairs were Emily Burnett and Jonathan Bloomberg.

Next year's MAD HOT BALLET will take place on June 13, 2018.

MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights Website >

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