Karen Kain News

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that Director of Production James Thornley has stepped down from his position after 30 years with the company. Mr. Thornley will continue to work as a production consultant on Ms. Kain's new Swan Lake which makes its world premiere in June 2020 and will pursue freelance and consulting opportunities.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that through CreativAction, the company will share resources to develop Canadian choreographic talent and support the dance community in Toronto. Curated by Creative Producer of CreativAction and Choreographic Associate Robert Binet, CreativAction has three core activities: Choreographic Workshop, Open Space and Micro-Commissions.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada announced today that Principal Dancer Harrison James is the recipient of the 2019 Rolex Dancers First Award. The award was presented by Ms. Kain and Maxim Lamarre, President and CEO, Rolex Canada Ltd., at a dinner and presentation in Toronto last night. 

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Greta Hodgkinson will retire as Principal Dancer in 2020 after a remarkable career that spans 30 years. Ms. Hodgkinson will dance the title role in Giselle and appear in Petite Mort in November as well as The Nutcracker in December. Her final performance as Principal Dancer will be the seminal role of Marguerite in Frederick Ashton's Marguerite and Armand, acquired in her honour by Ms. Kain and the National Ballet, which makes its company premiere during the Winter Season February 29 a?" March 7, 2020.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that a relaxed performance of YOU dance, the company's signature community engagement programme, will take place at the Betty Oliphant Theatre on September 21 at 5:30 pm.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the 2019/20 season roster which features 68 dancers and 10 RBC Apprentices.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that excerpts from Orpheus Alive by Choreographic Associate Robert Binet and American composer Missy Mazzoli will be performed as part of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's Works & Process series at the Peter B. Lewis Theater, New York City, September 15, 2019 at 3:00 pm.

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, presents The National Ballet of Canada: Orpheus Alive by Robert Binet and Missy Mazzoli, moderated by Wendy Whelan on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 3pm.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that after 20 years with the company, Senior Ballet Mistress Mandy-Jayne Richardson will pursue international opportunities as a repetiteur and coach at the end of the 201819 season.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Principal Character Artist Lorna Geddes will retire from the company at the end of the 201819 season after a remarkable 59-year career with the National Ballet.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced seven promotions for the 2019/20 season: Brendan Saye to Principal Dancer, Ben Rudisin and Donald Thom to First Soloist, Jeannine Haller, Siphesihle November, Kota Sato and Calley Skalnik to Second Soloist.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced that MAD HOT BALLET: Desert Dream raised over $1.2 million. The annual fundraising gala took place on June 12 in Toronto at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #MADHOTBALLET

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that Director of Communications Julia Drake will retire from the company at the end of the 2018/19 season after 29 years. Ms. Drake's final day at the National Ballet will be June 30, 2019.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for The Merry Widow which concludes the 2018/19 season June 19 - 23, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Principal Dancer Xiao Nan Yu will retire from the stage at the end of the season performing the title role of Hanna Galwari. 

Business / Arts, a national charity that shows the power in partnership between business and arts to strengthen Canada's arts sector, is thrilled to announce Antoni Cimolino C.M. as this year's recipient of the Peter Herrndorf Arts Leadership Award.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the casting for Physical Thinking, an all William Forsythe programme featuring the company premieres of The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude and Approximate Sonata 2016, with the return of The Second Detail.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the repertoire for MAD HOT BALLET: Desert Dream. The company's annual million-dollar fundraising gala takes place on June 12, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. 

Karen Kain, Artistic Director, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that a record-breaking number of 24,000 students across Canada will tune in to experience a performance of YOU dance, the company's signature education and outreach programme, on May 15, 2019 live from Daniels Spectrum in Toronto's Regent Park. The livestream is part of YOU dance's fifth residency in Regent Park which takes place May 13 - 16, 2019.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada and Barry Hughson, Executive Director today announced that the company's largest campaign to date, Soaring: The Campaign for The National Ballet of Canada, has raised $98 million in donations and pledges towards its $100 million goal in creative capital.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that the company's annual fundraising gala MAD HOT BALLET: Desert Dream will take place on June 12, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.