Karen Kain News

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced the cancellation of the 2020/21 Fall Season in November and The Nutcracker in December. Additional updates to the 2020/21 season are announced with performances scheduled to resume onstage in March 2021.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced the cancellation of the June season. The world premiere of Swan Lake, directed and staged by Ms. Kain, originally planned for June 5 to 21, 2020, will take place June 11 to 27, 2021.

Please note, that The National Ballet of Canada has postponed the unveiling of Karen Kain Way, which was scheduled to take place Friday, March 13, 2020 outside the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. A new date for the unveiling will be announced at a later date.

Barry Hughson, Executive Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that the City of Toronto will commemorate Artistic Director Karen Kain's 50th anniversary with the company and her invaluable contribution to the arts in Canada by naming a street in her honour.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that the world premiere of Angels' Atlas by international choreographic sensation Crystal Pite surpassed box office projections, bringing in over $1 million in ticket sales with 14,528 people in attendance. The highest grossing mixed programme in the company's history since West Side Story Suite in 2007, Angels' Atlas was presented with Wayne McGregor's electrifying Chroma and the company premiere of Marguerite and Armand by Frederick Ashton and received a rapturous response from audiences and critics alike.

ICON, an exhibition that celebrates Karen Kain's 50th anniversary with The National Ballet of Canada, will be showcased at Campbell House Museum in Toronto from Sunday, March 8, 2020 to the end of April. The exhibit will explore Ms. Kain's influence as an artist, leader and icon within the ballet world and the arts in general in Canada and around the globe.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the casting for Angels' Atlas by Crystal Pite which makes its world premiere on a programme with Chroma by Wayne McGregor and Marguerite and Armand by Frederick Ashton. The programme is onstage February 29 a?' March 7, 2020 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #AngelsAtlasNBC #ChromaNBC #MargueriteandArmandNBC

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Romeo and Juliet by acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. Principal Dancer Jurgita Dronina will make her company debut in the title role of Juliet this season. Romeo and Juliet is onstage March 11 a?" 22, 2020 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and concludes the Winter Season. #RomeoandJulietNBC 

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today unveiled the 2020/21 season which builds on the company's commitment to create new works, attract the best artists in the world and showcase the company on the international stage. The season features the world premiere of MADDADDAM, a new full-length ballet by the multi-award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor in collaboration with internationally renowned writer Margaret Atwood. Additional highlights include the North American premiere of Victoria, created by acclaimed choreographer Cathy Marston, and a guest appearance by San Francisco Ballet in its Toronto debut. The National Ballet will tour to London and Ottawa. #2021SeasonNBC

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Greta Hodgkinson's final performances as Principal Dancer will be in Marguerite and Armand, onstage February 29 - March 7. #MargueriteandArmandNBC

Yes, Washington, even in these cynical times, fairy tales do come true. For proof, look no further than the dream come true that is The National Ballet of Canada's production of The Sleeping Beauty at the Kennedy Center.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Principal Dancer Guillaume Côté will make his debut with New York City Ballet (NYCB) as a Guest Artist in Swan Lake on Friday, February 14. Mr. Côté will dance the role of Prince Siegfried, partnering with NYCB Principal Dancer Sara Mearns as Odette/Odile. Mr. Côté replaces NYCB Principal Dancer Tyler Angle, who is unable to perform due to injury. Ms. Mearns and Mr. Côté will also dance the roles on Sunday, February 16 at 2:00 pm.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced that Alexei Ratmansky's new full-length work, Of Love and Rage, will be a co-production between the National Ballet and American Ballet Theatre (ABT). The world premiere will be performed by ABT at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, March 5 - 8, 2020. ABT will reprise the work at New York's Metropolitan Opera House June 2 - 6, 2020. Of Love and Rage will make its Canadian premiere during the National Ballet's 2021/22 season in Toronto.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced the company will tour to the historic Royal Opera House in London, UK for the first time in 41 years. The National Ballet will perform one of its most treasured classics, The Sleeping Beauty from July 28 a?" August 1, 2020 for seven performances.

Canada's esteemed national ballet company, The National Ballet of Canada, returns to the Kennedy Center with two programs showcasing its world-renowned talents in the classical and contemporary dance repertory, January 28-February 2. All performances will be accompanied by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra conducted by David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of Canada's Orchestra.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada today announced the 2019/20 season lineup of Cannon Dolls for The Nutcracker. 2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors' Guard Kyle Lowry makes his debut as a Cannon Doll in The Nutcracker on December 19 at 7:00 pm.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for The Nutcracker. This season, First Soloist Koto Ishihara makes her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy. The holiday favourite is onstage December 12 - January 4, 2020 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #TheNutcrackerNBC

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Etudes by Danish choreographer Harald Lander, Alexei Ratmansky's Piano Concerto #1 and the company premiere of Jiří Kylián's Petite Mort. The mixed programme is onstage November 27 - December 1, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #EtudesNBC #PianoConcerto1NBC #PetiteMortNBC

Canada's esteemed ballet company returns with The Sleeping Beauty. The performance plays Jan. 30a?"Feb. 2. The Sleeping Beauty is the romantic tale of a princess cursed to sleep for 100 years, danced to Tchaikovsky's gorgeous music.

 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.