Principal Casting Announced for Upcoming Productions at NBC

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.

The 2018/19 season marks Principal Dancer Guillaume Côté's 20th anniversary with the company. This milestone achievement will be recognized at the March 2, 2019 performance when he reprises the title role in Apollo, Balanchine's masterpiece of neo-classicism. Making their Toronto debuts as Apollo are Principal Dancer Harrison James and First Soloist Brendan Saye. Principal Dancers Francesco Gabriele Frola and Evan McKie and Second Soloist Félix Paquet will make their debuts as Apollo this season.

Night by Canadian Julia Adam has enchanted audiences in Paris, London and New York. Originally created for San Francisco Ballet in 2000 with two female leads, Ms. Adam reimagines the work for its National Ballet premiere with two male dancers in the lead roles. The opening night performance of Night features Principal Dancer Skylar Campbell and Second Soloist Ben Rudisin.

The Sea Above, The Sky Below is an intricate pas de trois by Robert Binet. The opening night will feature Principal Dancer Heather Ogden, who makes her debut in the work, with Principal Dancer Harrison James and Second Soloist Félix Paquet.

The National Ballet first performed Paquita in 1991. Christopher Stowell has created a new adaptation, after the classic 1881 version by Marius Petipa. Making their debuts on opening night will be Principal Dancers Jillian Vanstone and Francesco Gabriele Frola.

The popular pre-performance Ballet Talk series, See the Music, Hear the Dance, returns this March. Led by Principal Conductor and Music Director David Briskin and featuring The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, ticket holders to the March 20, 2019 performance are invited to the talk which will begin at 6:25 pm.

Photo: Guillaume Côté and Xiao Nan Yu with Artists of the Ballet in Apollo. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.