Heather Ogden News

The National Ballet of Canada's ORPHEUS ALIVE is a ground-breaking theatrical production, with heavy focus on theatre. Choreographer Robert Binet has taken some huge chances with the incorporation of lengthy, text-driven components (writing, dramaturgy and text direction by Rosamund Small) that do a great job of explaining the narrative, but take away from what should be the main focus a?" dance.

Set in a pastoral German village, GISELLE has all the components of a quintessential romantic work. The titular character is a beautiful young woman living with her strict-yet-loving mother (Lorna Geddes). Although a local forester (Piotr Stanczyk) wants to marry her, Giselle has fallen for another man in the village a?" the Count of Silesia, Albrecht (Harrison James), who has donned a disguise to escape the responsibilities of his noble status. When the forester exposes the Count's identity, Giselle goes mad and dies a?" in some productions by suicide, but in this version it seems more likely that a pre-existing heart condition is to blame. She returns as a Wili in the second act to defend Albrecht from the other Wilis and their queen (Heather Ogden), who force men in the woods to dance to their death.

 Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the world premiere of Orpheus Alive by Choreographic Associate Robert Binet featuring a new commissioned score by acclaimed New York composer Missy Mazzoli. Orpheus Alive is paired with the company premiere of George Balanchine's Chaconne November 15 a?' 21, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada and Barry Hughson, Executive Director today announced the great artistic and financial success of the 2018/19 season, which resulted in an operating surplus for the 10th consecutive year. The Annual General Meeting was held today at 6:30 pm at The Walter Carsen Centre for The National Ballet of Canada in Toronto.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Giselle which will feature several milestone events as well as important debuts. Giselle opens the 2019/20 season, which celebrates Ms. Kain's 50th anniversary with the company, and is onstage November 6 a?" 10, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #GiselleNBC

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.

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. 

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 of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by acclaimed British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. Having performed to sold-out houses in London, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Toronto, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland returns to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts March 7-17, 2019.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the winter mixed programme of George Balanchine's Apollo, the Canadian premiere of Night by Julia Adam, Choreographic Associate Robert Binet's The Sea Above, The Sky Below and a new adaptation of Paquita by Associate Artistic Director Christopher Stowell. The programme opens the company's Winter Season and is onstage March 1 - 3 & March 20 - 21, 2019. 

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that the company returns to the National Arts Centre, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary season. The National Ballet will perform a triple bill featuring Justin Peck's Paz de la Jolla, George Balanchine's Apollo and Frederick Ashton's The Dream, onstage January 31 February 2, 2019. #NBOConTour

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for The Nutcracker. First Soloist Jack Bertinshaw makes his debut this season as Peter/The Nutcracker. Corps de Ballet Member Ethan Watts will debut as Uncle Nikolai.  

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Frederick Ashton's The Dream and Guillaume Cote's Being and Nothingness. The mixed programme is onstage November 21 - 25, 2018 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. #TheDreamNBC #BeingandNothingnessNBC

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the North American premiere of John Neumeier's Anna Karenina. The first co-operation between The National Ballet of Canada, The Hamburg Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet, Anna Karenina is inspired by Leo Tolstoy's great masterpiece and opens the National Ballet's 2018/19 season November 10 - 18, 2018 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. #AnnaKareninaNBC

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Principal Dancers Svetlana Lunkina, Heather Ogden and Sonia Rodriguez will make their debuts in the title role in the North American premiere of John Neumeier's Anna Karenina. Based on Leo Tolstoy's great masterwork, Anna Karenina is the first cooperation between The National Ballet of Canada, The Hamburg Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet and opens the 2018/19 season November 10 - 18, 2018 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. #AnnaKareninaNBC

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the company's upcoming tour to Hamburg, Germany with an all-Canadian programme featuring The Dreamers Ever Leave You by Choreographic Associate Robert Binet, James Kudelka's The Man in Black and Emergence by Crystal Pite. The National Ballet will perform as part of the 44th Hamburg Ballet Days, a two-week festival of dance, for two performances July 3 - 4, 2018 at Großes Haus. This will be the company's first appearance in Hamburg since 1994.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the upcoming tour of John Neumeier's Nijinsky to San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House, April 3 – 8, 2018. Part of San Francisco Ballet's 2017/18 season, this will be the company's return to the Bay Area for the first time in 10 years. The National Ballet's appearance is part of a unique reciprocal agreement between the two companies and San Francisco Ballet will tour to Toronto to perform in an upcoming season.

Tchaikovsky's exquisite score meets Nureyev's exhilarating choreography in a sensational grand ballet experience. The National Ballet of Canada brings back their celebrated production of Tchaikovsky's THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, choreographed by the late Rudolf Nureyev. A dancer himself, Nureyev's creative stamp on the piece expands the already technically challenging choreography originally created by Marius Petipa - adding depth to the Prince's role with variations of amplified difficulty. Even the most ardent ballet critic is sure to be impressed by the extreme athleticism required to dance this production.

Slip into a painting. Slip into the life of a man. Slip into nature. MADE IN CANADA stimulates the imagination with a program of three invigorating Canadian ballets - Robert Binet's The Dreamers Ever Leave You, James Kudelka's The Four Seasons, and Crystal Pite's Emergence. This program offers something for everyone from classical choreography, to contemporary and everything in between.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Rudolf Nureyev's landmark production of The Sleeping Beauty. A "grand jewel in The National Ballet of Canada's repertoire" (National Post), The Sleeping Beauty is onstage March 8 - 18, 2018 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.