Winners of RBC Emerging Artist Apprentice Award Announced

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada announced today that Corps de Ballet member Jimmy Coleman and Apprentice Heather Capen are the recipients of the fifth annual RBC Emerging Artist Apprentice Award for their performances as Apprentices during the 2016/17 season. Mr. Coleman and Ms. Capen each received a $1,000 cash prize. The awards were presented by Artistic Director, YOU dance / Principal Ballet Master Lindsay Fischer, on behalf of RBC Foundation, during the Patrons' Council 2017/18 Season Opening Party in Toronto last night.

Established in 2012, the RBC Emerging Artist Apprentice Award recognizes members of the National Ballet's Apprentice Programme for their artistic growth, professional development and exceptional talent. The award recipients are chosen by a selection committee made up of members of the National Ballet's artistic staff.

Mr. Coleman was born in Toronto, Ontario and trained at Canada's National Ballet School and the San Francisco Ballet School. Mr. Coleman joined the National Ballet of Canada as an RBC Apprentice in 2015 and became a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2017. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ms. Capen trained at Zamuel Ballet School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She joined the National Ballet as a RBC Apprentice in 2016.

Mr. Coleman will travel with the National Ballet for the company's upcoming tour to Paris with performances of Nijinsky, a ballet by John Neumeier. Marking the National Ballet's return to Paris for the first time in 45 years, Nijinsky will run from October 3 - 8, 2017 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

Both winners of the RBC Emerging Artist Apprentice Award will appear with the company onstage during the Fall Season which opens with The Winter's Tale, November 10 - 19, and continues with Nijinsky, November 22 - 26.