Brochure 1112

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Celebrating 60 Years of Partnership with the Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada

2011|12 season is presented by

&Romeo JulietWorld Premiere!

2011|12

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1951–19731975–1976Celia Franca

1973–1974Celia Franca and David Haber

1974–1975David Haber

1976–1983Alexander Grant

Artistic Directors

1997 James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons premieres.

1976 Sir Frederick Ashton stages La Fille mal gardée, the first of 47 ballets over the next 35 years to be sponsored by the Volunteer Committee’s Build-a-Ballet Fund.

2001/02 The National Ballet celebrates its 50th anniversary with a season of landmark ballets from its history.

1964 The National Ballet debuts at the O’Keefe Centre with the company premiere of John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet.

1951 Programme from the first performance on November 12.

1967 The National Ballet premieres Erik Bruhn’s Swan Lake, which was also recorded for broadcast by the CBC the same year.

1972 Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty premieres. The company tours the production across the US and Canada culminating in a triumphant debut at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House.

Great Moments in the National Ballet’s Remarkable 60-year History

1999 James Kudelka’s Swan Lake premieres.

Earl Kraul and Galina Samsova

Veronica Tennant and Rudolf Nureyev

Nadia Potts and Tomas Schramek

Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar AntonijevicRex Harrington

Lois Smith and Erik Bruhn

Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant, Celia Franca, Alexander Grant, Lynn Wallis, James Kudelka

Celebrating 60 Glorious Years!

It all began with the love of dance. Three Toronto volunteer organizers – Sydney Mulqueen,

Pearl Whitehead and Aileen Woods – dreamed of a national ballet company. They sought the

advice of Ninette de Valois, the pioneering founder of Britain’s Sadler’s Wells Ballet and she

recommended a dramatic dancer, budding choreographer and firebrand named Celia Franca

“– if you can get her.” They could and did get her. “I think you need me here” was her

tactful judgment. The National Ballet of Canada was founded and, with Miss Franca as

Artistic Director, made its debut on November 12, 1951 at the Eaton Auditorium in Toronto.

The National Ballet of Canada now ranks as one of the world’s top dance companies with

70 dancers and its own orchestra.

1951 Celia Franca arrives

1983–1986Erik Bruhn

1986–1989Valerie Wilder and Lynn Wallis

1989–1996Reid Anderson

1996–2005James Kudelka

2005–presentKaren Kain

1988 The First International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize is held.

1997 For her retirement after 28 years with the National Ballet, Karen Kain performs James Kudelka’s The Actress at the Hummingbird Centre and embarks on a farewell tour across Canada.

1995 James Kudelka’s new production of The Nutcracker premieres. Over 815,000 people have attended since 1995.

November 9, 2006 The National Ballet moves to the Four Seasons Centre and a new era begins. For the first performance in the company’s new home, Artistic Director Karen Kain restages Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty.

“A beautiful company, full of young talent and old wisdom… The future of The National Ballet of Canada is in wonderful hands.”—Dancing Times (UK), 2010

Karen Kain, Errol Pickford and Glen Tetley Martine Lamy and Rex Harrington

Karen Kain and Rex Harrington

Greta Hodgkinson

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Karen Kain Artistic Director

This year marks The National Ballet of Canada’s 60th anniversary. It’s an extraordinary landmark by any measure. When I think of the number of ballets, of great dancers, of unforgettable performances, of all the work, commitment and passion on the part of so many people that has gone into all of those seasons, I’m simply awed. A 60th anniversary is traditionally represented by a diamond because a diamond symbolizes both endurance and the flame of passion that still burns. As a dancer with the company for many years and now as Artistic Director, I can say with perfect certainty that a diamond is a perfect symbol for the National Ballet in this very special year. I’ve never known the company to be as artistically vibrant, as confident and as forward-looking as it is today. And I think the ballets we have planned for the upcoming year are ample proof of that.

I’m especially excited by the prospect of staging the world premiere of a brand new Romeo and Juliet by the talented Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. Romeo and Juliet has been one of the National Ballet’s signature works since it entered our repertoire in 1964 and to have a new interpretation by one of today’s most gifted contemporary ballet artists is a genuinely thrilling development for the company.

The 60th anniversary will give us the opportunity to look back as well, to stage some of the works with which the company has become closely identified over the years and which our audiences have come to embrace with particular fondness. Two of those are Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée and Rudolf Nureyev’s version of The Sleeping Beauty. They were always two of my most favourite full-length works to dance when I was on stage and it’s wonderful to see that they still cast the same glorious spell now as they did then.

I have always had a great regard for John Neumeier’s ballets, both to dance in and to watch, and his heart-breakingly beautiful The Seagull is one of his finest full-length works. When we staged the North American premiere of the work in 2008, it was greeted with some of the most lavish praise I have ever seen for one of our ballets.

Kevin O’Day is a superbly gifted American choreographer who has been a resident in Germany for some time, where he is Artistic Director of Kevin O’Day Nationaltheater Ballett Mannheim. His Hamlet is a stunningly original work, burrowing into the complex psychological world of Shakespeare’s play with the same energy and physicality that mark all his work.

Finally, our summer mixed programme will feature Wayne McGregor’s stunning Chroma, which we are bringing back by popular demand, Maurice Béjart’s intensely moving Song of a Wayfarer and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s brilliantly comic Elite Syncopations, three very different works that display the great range and dynamism of our company today.

I hope you will join us in this very special year to experience the beauty, emotion and abundance of great ballet!

Sincerely,

Karen Kain C.C., LL.D., D.Litt., O.Ont.


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World Premiere!Romeo&Juliet

November 16—27, 2011

Shakespeare’s tender, tragic and enduring evocation of youthful passion undone by familial and societal discord, Romeo and Juliet has exerted its incomparable emotional power over generations of ballet audiences throughout the world. Rich in drama, characteriza-tion and psychological nuance, it has been a signature piece for the National Ballet since entering the repertoire in 1964 and has always been a proving ground for the expressive abilities of dancers performing the title roles. Now the National Ballet is proud to have a new version of the ballet to mark its 60th anniversary. Created by the internationally celebrated choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, this world premiere is a totally fresh, brilliantly imagined interpretation of Shakespeare’s play. Building on and finding wonderfully inventive possibilities in Prokofiev’s inimitable and touching score, Ratmansky blends the elegance and stateliness of a classical vocabulary with the intense emotional edge of the modern to create an unforgettable version of one of the greatest dance dramas ever.

Choreography: Alexei RatmanskyMusic: Sergei Prokofiev Costume, Set and Properties Design: Richard HudsonLighting Design: Jennifer Tipton

Lead philanthropic support provided by Sandra & Jim Pitblado with additional generous support from Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, an anonymous friend of the National Ballet and Walter Carsen, O.C.

“Having Alexei Ratmansky create a new Romeo and Juliet for the National Ballet to mark our 60th anniversary is a dream come true. His aesthetic – steeped in the Russian school but open to contemporary sources – is ideal for this work and our company which, with our classical heritage and our passion for the modern, is perfectly suited to his distinctive dance vision.” —Karen Kain

1) Celia Franca, Yves Cousineau and Frank Augustyn as Lady Capulet, Tybalt and Romeo, 1976. 2) Veronica Tennant as Juliet during the curtain call for her farewell performance, 1989. 3) Karen Kain and Rex Harrington as Juliet and Romeo, 1992. 4) Robert Tewsley and Margaret Illmann as Romeo and Juliet, 1995.

Alexei Ratmansky in rehearsal

Romeo and Juliet – A New Era

presents

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Alexei Ratmansky is the most in-demand ballet choreographer in the world, known for his musicality, wit and physical inventiveness.”

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—The New York Times

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La Fille mal gardéeFebruary 29—March 4, 2012

One of the oldest, yet most enduringly loved, of all narrative ballets, La Fille mal gardée exudes the freshness, frothiness and sweet-natured innocence of a lovely summer day. Sir Frederick Ashton’s version of the work, which was brought into the National Ballet’s repertoire in 1976 by then Artistic Director Alexander Grant, tells the simple love story of Lise, a village girl, who falls in love with and hopes to marry a handsome young farmer, Colas. Her mother, however, has promised Lise to the rich but buffoonish son of a local landowner. The full flower of Ashton’s choreographic genius, from the broadest comedy and the wittiest stagecraft to the most heartfelt moments of genuine tenderness, is on display in the ballet as he manoeuvres the young lovers through riotous escapades and affecting duets toward their inevitable and happy union. A pastoral delight, La Fille mal gardée buoys the spirit and touches the heart as few ballets can.

Choreography: Sir Frederck AshtonMusic: Ferdinand Hérold, arranged by John Lanchbery from the 1982 versionSet and Costume Design: Osbert LancasterLighting Design: Thomas Saunders

La Fille mal gardée is a gift from THE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA.

La Fille mal gardée was the first of 47 ballets generously gifted to the National Ballet by The Volunteer Committee.

“The spirit of English ballet is a significant part of the National Ballet’s history and in no other choreographer is that spirit so richly embodied than in Sir Frederick Ashton. La Fille mal gardée holds a cherished place in our repertoire, in the hearts of our audiences and in the memories of everyone who has danced in it.” —Karen Kain

1) Karen Kain and Frank Augustyn as Lise and Colas, 1976. 2) Frederick Ashton with Michael Somes, David Scott and Alexander Grant in rehearsal, 1976. 3) Yoko Ichino and Kevin Pugh as Lise and Colas, 1984. 4) Martine Lamy as Lise, 1992.

Artists of the Ballet Piotr Stanczyk

Sir Frederick Ashton’s Legacy 1 2 3 4

A comic masterpiece. Only the most hard of hearts could fail to be charmed.”

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—National Post

Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar Antonijevic

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The Sleeping BeautyMarch 10—18, 2012

One of the paramount examples of the choreographic art of the 19th-century, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty has never lost its ability to move and enthrall audiences. Rarely, if ever, have music – in this case by Tchaikovsky – and dance been so perfectly and seamlessly integrated in the service of narrative than in this unmatched blend of spectacle and artistry. Each musical phrase and every step of dancing feels conceived in precise relation to the whole, resulting in a work of astonishing formal unity.

Rudolf Nureyev’s adaptation of the ballet, which he set on the National Ballet in 1972, retains the original’s spirit of burnished classicism but brings the story’s latent emotion to the fore and charges the dancing with Nureyev’s own unique style of articulate athleticism. Harkening back to an earlier era of ballet as a sumptuous music-drama of unbridled exuberance, The Sleeping Beauty is a great dancer’s act of homage to the art form to which he devoted his life.

Produced, staged and with additional choreography: Rudolf Nureyev after Marius PetipaRestaged by: Karen KainMusic: Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskySet and Costume Design: Nicholas GeorgiadisLighting Design: David Hersey

Made possible by generous contributions from Margaret & Jim Fleck, The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Sandra & Jim Pitblado, Gretchen Ross and Nancy Pencer & Michael Benjamin.

“Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty will always be a key chapter in the narrative of the National Ballet, signalling, more than any other work, our arrival as a mature and confident classical company. But it is more than a simple historical document; it thrills and challenges and breathes the art of ballet at its most rarefied as few works can.” —Karen Kain

1) Victoria Bertram as Carabosse, 1987. 2) Rudolf Nureyev with Veronica Tennant in rehearsal, 1972. 3) Charles Kirby and Linda Maybarduk as King Florestan and The Queen, c.1990. 4) Rudolf Nureyev and Karen Kain as Prince Florimund and Princess Aurora, 1972.

Artists of the BalletGuillaume Côté

Rudolf Nureyev’s Masterpiece

Heather Ogden

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Restaged with passion, precision and great affection by Karen Kain, the work remains a brilliant showcase for the entire company.”

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—Toronto Sun

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The SeagullMarch 21—25, 2012

Few contemporary choreographers possess such an instinctive and authoritative sense of theatricality as the American-born, German-based John Neumeier. Whatever subject he explores, whether in abstraction or narrative form, his works are marked first and foremost by their arresting dramatic character and emotional intensity.

Neumeier’s moving and astonishing adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s great play The Seagull bears all the hallmarks of his aesthetic and provides a perfect vehicle for his distinctive dramatic and choreographic gifts. The central preoccupations of the play – the shaping influence of love on the artistic sensibility, intergenerational struggle, the nature of love itself – are found in the ballet, but Neumeier changes the vocations of the key characters from actresses and writers to dancers and choreographers. An evocative score drawn from such composers as Shostakovich, Evelyn Glennie, Tchaikovsky and Scriabin forms the ideal musical matrix for this richly-imagined, compelling work.

Choreography: John NeumeierAfter the play by Anton ChekhovMusic: Dmitri Shostakovich, Evelyn Glennie, Pyotr Iliych Tchaikovsky and Alexander Scriabin Set, Costume and Lighting Design: John Neumeier

The Seagull is generously supported in part by an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

“I have always loved John Neumeier’s ballets for their unfailing ability to locate the emotional heart of any situation and any choreographic context and express it so vividly. He is able to meld dance and drama as few modern choreographers can and his perfectly judged musicality makes his ballets artistically rewarding for both the dancers and the audience.” —Karen Kain

1) Sergiu Stefanschi and John Neumeier in rehearsal, 1974. 2) John Neumeier creating Now and Then, 1992. 3) Graeme Mears, Karen Kain, Nicholas Khan, Robert Tewsley and Sarah Green with John Neumeier in rehearsal for Now and Then, 1992.

Greta Hodgkinson, Xiao Nan Yu and Piotr StanczykSonia Rodriguez and Zdenek Konvalina

John Neumeier and the National Ballet

Sonia Rodriguez and Zdenek Konvalina

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Impressive in all regards… Neumeier’s movement imagery is hauntingly eloquent.”

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—Dance International

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New! HamletJune 1—10, 2012

Hamlet has always been the Mount Everest of dramas, not just for the layered thematic complexity it contains, but for the extraordinary challenge that the title role represents. This is as true for ballet adaptations of the work as for productions of the original play. The American-born choreographer Kevin O’Day, now Artistic Director of Kevin O’Day Nationaltheater Ballett Mannheim, has let neither of these obstacles daunt him, plunging headlong into Shakespeare’s greatest play and wresting from it a ballet of haunting eloquence, raw emotion and truly tragic impact. Adhering with astonishing fidelity to the original’s story, O’Day’s choreographic reconfiguration, which bridges classical and contemporary idioms with his own rough-edged, highly physical style, brims with narrative urgency and startling characterization. Set to a stunning soundscape by John King, O’Day’s Hamlet is a visceral yet exhilarating rendering of one of western culture’s greatest interior voyages.

Choreography: Kevin O’DayDramaturge: Vivien ArnoldMusic: John KingSet and Costume Design: Tatyana van WalsumLighting Design: Mark Stanley

“I think Kevin O’Day is one of today’s really exciting choreographic voices. He’s totally fearless in his approach, gifted with a keen understanding of the body’s expressive power and willing to wrestle with new ideas and new ways of seeing. His Hamlet is a true tour de force and one of his finest works to date.” —Karen Kain

1) Tomas Schramek as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, 1976. 2) Martine Lamy and Rex Harrington as Katherina and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, 1999. 3) Rudolf Nureyev as the Moor in The Moor’s Pavane, c.1974. 4) Chan Hon Goh and Philippe Dubuc as Titania and Bottom in The Dream, 1995. 5) James Kudelka as Oberon in The Dream, 1978.

Artists of Stuttgart BalletJiří Jelinek with Artists of Stuttgart Ballet

Shakespeare in Ballet

Alicia Amatriain and Jason Reilly of Stuttgart Ballet

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—Badische Neueste Nachrichten, Germany

Succinct, spectacular dance action…”

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June 13—17, 2012

Chroma &Song of a Wayfarer &Elite SyncopationsA work totally overpowering in its conception and performance, a luminous, electrifyingly kinetic exploration of “the architecture of the human body,” Wayne McGregor’s Chroma was an undeniable sensation in the 2010/11 season. One of those rare works that seems to redefine the potential and future of modern dance, it is back by popular demand to headline this mixed programme.

Set to Gustav Mahler’s moving, luminous song-cycle, Maurice Béjart’s Song of a Wayfarer is a duet for two male dancers. Premiered in 1971 by Rudolf Nureyev and Paolo Bortoluzzi, it was thereafter long associated with Nureyev. A deeply affecting rumination on the themes of youthful despair and fate, it is one of Béjart’s most often revived works and has been in the National Ballet’s repertoire since 1979.

A ballet that conjures up, with effervescent wit and comic irreverence, a bygone world of social dances and jaunty, exhibitionist virtuosity, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s crowd-pleasing confection Elite Syncopations is a joyous, riotously-costumed burst of inspired fun set to the music of Scott Joplin and other composers of the ragtime era.

ChromaChoreography: Wayne McGregorMusic: Joby Talbot and Jack White III, Arranged by Joby Talbot, Orchestrated by Christopher AustinSet Design: John PawsonCostume Design: Moritz JungeLighting Design: Lucy Carter

Song of a WayfarerChoreography: Maurice BéjartStaged by: Maina GielgudMusic: Gustav Mahler

Elite SyncopationsChoreography: Sir Kenneth MacMillanStaged by: Karen KainMusic: Scott Joplin and othersCostume Design: Ian SpurlingLighting Design: William Bundy

“These three works – while very different in technique, mood, theme and style – are among the most popular and audience-pleasing short works in our repertoire. Song of a Wayfarer and Elite Syncopations have long been favourite modern works of mine, and the experience of bringing Chroma here for us to dance was simply exhilarating.”—Karen Kain

1) Frank Augustyn and Tomas Schramek in Song of a Wayfarer, 1981. 2) Jeremy Ransom in Elite Syncopations, 1985. 3) Clinton Rothwell and Karen Kain in Elite Syncopations, 1979. 4) Gizella Witkowsky and Martine Lamy in Elite Syncopations, 1992.

Zdenek Konvalina Artists of the Ballet

Triple Bill – Past and Present

presents

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Chroma is a stunner... so fresh and so daring. A delirious frenzy of movement and is not to be missed.”

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—The Globe and Mail

Bridgett Zehr and Aleksandar Antonijevic

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“Karen Kain’s dancers suggest a willingness to explore, and that is the sort of imperative that will keep dance alive.”

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—Ballet Review (UK)


Piotr StanczykGreta HodgkinsonGuillaume Côté*Xiao Nan YuJiří JelinekSonia RodriguezAleksandar AntonijevicBridgett ZehrZdenek Konvalina Heather Ogden

*Guest Artist-in-Residence

Principal Dancers

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2011|12 Subscribe Today

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1 Premium SubscriptionFull series of 6 balletsSame day, same seats

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PERFORMANCE 7:30 pmWednesday Evening

7:30 pmThursdayEvening

7:30 pmFridayEvening

2:00 pmSaturdayAfternoon

7:30 pmSaturday Evening

2:00 pmSundayAfternoon

Romeo & Juliet NOV 23 NOV 17 NOV 18 NOV 19 NOV 19 NOV 20

La Fille mal gardée FEB 29 MAR 1 MAR 2 MAR 3 MAR 3 MAR 4

The Sleeping Beauty MAR 14 MAR 15 MAR 16 MAR 10 MAR 10 MAR 11

The Seagull MAR 21 MAR 22 MAR 23 MAR 24 MAR 24 MAR 25

Hamlet JUN 6 JUN 7 JUN 1 JUN 2 JUN 2 JUN 3

Chroma JUN 13 JUN 14 JUN 15 JUN 16 JUN 16 JUN 17

SECTION AdultPrice

HST Total Senior/ Student/ ChildPrice

HST Total Senior/ Student/ ChildSaturday Afternoon 50% offPrice

HST Total

Orchestra 1.1 $ 933.27 $ 119.73 $ 1,053 $ 933.27 $ 119.73 $ 1,053 $ 508.47 $ 64.53 $ 573

Orchestra 1.2 $ 781.95 $ 100.05 $ 882 $ 731.49 $ 93.51 $ 825 $ 404.97 $ 51.03 $ 456

Orchestra 1.3 $ 638.55 $ 81.45 $ 720 $ 612.03 $ 77.97 $ 690 $ 343.89 $ 43.11 $ 387

Grand Ring $ 1,233.27 $ 158.73 $ 1,392 $ 1,233.27 $ 158.73 $ 1,392 $ 654.51 $ 83.49 $ 738

Ring 3 $ 728.85 $ 93.15 $ 822 $ 694.35 $ 88.65 $ 783 $ 389.01 $ 48.99 $ 438

Ring 4 $ 484.59 $ 61.41 $ 546 $ 458.07 $ 57.93 $ 516 $ 272.19 $ 33.81 $ 306

Ring 5.1 $ 253.59 $ 31.41 $ 285 $ 200.55 $ 24.45 $ 225 $ 128.85 $ 15.15 $ 144

Premium Subscription Prices

Benefits for Premium Subscribers: n Deepest discounts: save up to 28% off regular ticket pricen Priority Seatingn Free and convenient ticket exchanges by phone n Same seats for all six balletsn Save 50% on extra tickets with subscriber rushn Seniors, students and children save 50% on Saturday Afternoon Subscriptionn Advance purchase for The Nutcracker before public on salen 15% discount at Tundra Restaurant (located in the Hilton Hotel on Richmond Street, directly across from the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts)

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PERFORMANCE 2:00 pmThursday Afternoon

4 Ballets

7:30 pmSaturdayEvening

3 Ballets

2:00 pmSundayAfternoon

3 Ballets

Romeo & Juliet NOV 24 NOV 26 NOV 27

La Fille mal gardée MAR 1

The Sleeping Beauty MAR 17 MAR 18

The Seagull MAR 22

Hamlet JUN 7 JUN 9 JUN 10

2 Choice SubscriptionSeries of 3 or 4 balletsSame day, same seats

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3 Flex SubscriptionSeries of 4 balletsSelect your ballets – see calendar on page 23

SECTION AdultThursday AfternoonPrice

4 Ballets

HST Total Adult Saturday Evening and Sunday AfternoonPrice

3 Ballets

HST Total Senior/ Student/ ChildThursday Afternoon 50% offPrice

4 Ballets

HST Total

Orchestra 1.1 $ 633.68 $ 81.32 $ 715 $ 459.99 $ 59.01 $ 519 $ 352.28 $ 44.72 $ 397

Orchestra 1.2 $ 556.68 $ 71.32 $ 628 $ 401.58 $ 51.42 $ 453 $ 311.56 $ 39.44 $ 351

Orchestra 1.3 $ 462.00 $ 59.00 $ 521 $ 343.17 $ 43.83 $ 387 $ 267.32 $ 33.68 $ 301

Grand Ring $ 817.76 $ 105.24 $ 923 $ 590.07 $ 75.93 $ 666 $ 443.40 $ 56.60 $ 500

Ring 3 $ 490.32 $ 62.68 $ 553 $ 351.15 $ 44.85 $ 396 $ 279.68 $ 35.32 $ 315

Ring 4 $ 342.52 $ 43.48 $ 386 $ 242.28 $ 30.72 $ 273 $ 206.24 $ 25.76 $ 232

Ring 5.1 $ 184.12 $ 22.68 $ 207 $ 125.49 $ 15.51 $ 141 $ 127.48 $ 15.52 $ 143

SECTION Flex 4 Price

HST Total

Orchestra 1.1 $ 640.74 $ 82.26 $ 723

Orchestra 1.2 $ 563.78 $ 72.22 $ 636

Orchestra 1.3 $ 469.06 $ 59.94 $ 529

Grand Ring $ 824.82 $ 106.18 $ 931

Ring 3 $ 497.38 $ 63.62 $ 561

Ring 4 $ 349.62 $ 44.38 $ 394

Ring 5.1 $ 191.22 $ 23.78 $ 215

Choice Subscription Prices

Flex Subscription Prices

Benefits for Choice Subscribers: n Save up to 23% off regular ticket pricen Convenient ticket exchanges by phone (nominal service charge applies)n Same seats for all balletsn Seniors, students and children save 50% off Thursday Afternoon Subscriptionn Advance purchase for The Nutcracker before public on salen 15% discount at Tundra Restaurant (located in the Hilton Hotel on Richmond Street, directly across from the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts)

Benefits for Flex Subscribersn Mix and match ballets to suit your tasten Pick from any available main season performances (excludes Gala and The Nutcracker)n Convenient ticket exchanges by phone (nominal service charge applies)n Save up to 20% off the regular ticket pricen 15% discount at Tundra Restaurant (located in the Hilton Hotel on Richmond Street, directly across from the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts)

3 Flex Subscription

Cavalcade of Lights

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Grand Ring

Ring 3

Ring 4

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R. Fraser Elliott HallFour Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

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SECTION Price HST Total

Orchestra 1.1 $ 156.87 $ 20.31 $ 177

Orchestra 1.2 $ 138.29 $ 17.71 $ 156

Orchestra 1.3 $ 112.62 $ 14.38 $ 127

Grand Ring $ 207.31 $ 26.69 $ 234

Ring 3 $ 123.24 $ 15.76 $ 139

Ring 4 $ 87.84 $ 11.16 $ 99

Ring 5.1 $ 46.25 $ 5.75 $ 52

Ring 5.2 $ 22.35 $ 2.65 $ 25

Main Season Ticket Prices

All dates, programmes, casting and pricing are subject to change without advance notice.

national.ballet.ca 416 345 9595

Fall Season November 2011Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

14 15 16 Romeo & Juliet 17 Romeo & Juliet 18 Romeo & Juliet 19 Romeo & Juliet 20 Romeo & Juliet

2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

21 22 Romeo & Juliet 23 Romeo & Juliet 24 Romeo & Juliet 25 Romeo & Juliet 26 Romeo & Juliet 27 Romeo & Juliet

2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

Best availability for Flex Subscribers and the general public.

2011|12 Calendar

Winter Season February / March 2012Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

27 28 29 La Fille 1 La Fille 2 La Fille 3 La Fille 4 La Fille

2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

5 6 7 8 9 10 Sleeping Beauty 11 Sleeping Beauty

2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM

12 13 Sleeping Beauty 14 Sleeping Beauty 15 Sleeping Beauty 16 Sleeping Beauty 17 Sleeping Beauty 18 Sleeping Beauty

2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

19 20 21 Seagull 22 Seagull 23 Seagull 24 Seagull 25 Seagull

2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

Summer Season June 2012Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

1 Hamlet 2 Hamlet 3 Hamlet

2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM

4 5 6 Hamlet 7 Hamlet 8 Hamlet 9 Hamlet 10 Hamlet

2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

11 12 13 Chroma 14 Chroma 15 Chroma 16 Chroma 17 Chroma

2:00 PM 2:00 PM

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

18 19 20 Mad Hot Gala 21 22 23 24

Holiday Season December 2011Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

5 6 7 8 9 10 Nutcracker 11 Nutcracker

2:00 PM 1:00 PM

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60th AnniversaryCelebration

Santa Claus Parade

Cavalcade of Lights

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The NutcrackerDecember 10—31, 2011

E.T.A. Hoffmann’s evergreen Christmas tale has received countless treatments and re-imaginings over the decades, but perhaps none captures so well its blend of lavish exoticism, unbridled fantasy, homespun humour and childhood innocence as the National Ballet’s production, choreographed by James Kudelka.

Kudelka’s version gives full play to the story’s archetypal structure, locating in its dream-filled textures and adventure narrative a paradigm for the eternal journey from childhood to adolescence. The production returns the work to its original folktale origins, with a richly detailed portrait of rural 19th-century Russia, beautifully evoked by Santo Loquasto’s stunning set and costumes, yet provides ample scope for the otherworldly spectacle and magic that is at the heart of the story. The breathtaking, opulent dream realms of the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy, the extraordinary array of amazing and fantastical characters and Kudelka’s signature energetic and imaginative choreography, combine to make the National Ballet’s Nutcracker one of the most visually intoxicating, sumptuously conceived and wondrously entertaining anywhere.

Choreography and Libretto: James Kudelka, O.C.Music: Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskySet and Costume Design: Santo LoquastoLighting Design: Jennifer Tipton

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra & Jim Pitblado, Lawrence & Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

“James’ Nutcracker is one of the absolute jewels of our company’s repertoire. No Nutcracker I have seen captures the essence of childhood and the sense of wonder, magic and adventure that defines it, as well as this one. It’s pure pleasure from start to finish.” —Karen Kain

1) David Adams and Judith Dornis as the Prince and Clara with Betty Pop and Barbara Monty as Reindeer, 1956. 2) Annette Lambros and Tomas Schramek as Clara and the Snowman, c.1970. 3) Lorna Geddes and Rosemary Jeanes as Snow Maidens, c.1971. 4) Karen Kain and David Nixon as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Master of Ceremonies with Students of Canada’s National Ballet School, 1979. 5) Rex Harrington and Martine Lamy as Peter/the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy, 1995.

Piotr Stanczyk with Artists of the Ballet Artists of the Ballet

A Holiday Tradition

Subscribers Buy NowPublic On Sale: Monday, September 26, 2011

presents

Xiao Nan Yu and Keiichi Hirano with Artists of the Ballet

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Kudelka animates every moment... a feast for the eye... a Nutcracker it would be hard to surpass”

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—Toronto Star

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Inspiring Audiences of TomorrowReaching out to young people, cultivating an interest in the arts at a young age and promoting dance and physical movement as a creative outlet for youth are central parts of the National Ballet’s mandate to enrich the lives of Canadians. Through a number of education and outreach programmes, the National Ballet captivates children’s imaginations, developing a deeper understanding of the arts.

Every year, over 90,000 young people experience the company’s outreach activities.

YOU dance> Free in-class workshops and performances for grades 4 to 6

Ballet Talks> Free pre-performance chats at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts before every show

T-Dot> Dance, opera, theatre and film experiences for youth ages 15 to 18

Kids Corps> A club for 5 to 12 year olds

Exhibits> Ballet exhibits at Toronto’s City Hall and the company’s studios

Creating Dances Summer Camp> Summer camp for 7 to 12 year olds to explore creativity through music and dance

Summer Dance Intensive> 10 day intensive training for ballet students, taught by National Ballet dancers

Ballet Class with the Stars> Master classes taught by National Ballet dancers for intermediate ballet students

Exploring Ballet Workshops> In-school movement workshops for children from kindergarten to grade 12

Tours of the National Ballet Studios> Tours of The Walter Carsen Centre for The National Ballet of Canada for community groups, students and the general public

DanceBreak.ca> 16 to 29 year olds can purchase tickets online for only $30 on the day of the show

Share the Magic> An opportunity for community and social organizations to bring their groups to a performance at no charge

Dance About> In-school performances

Nutcracker Story Time> An engaging, interactive telling of the magical Nutcracker story prior to every performance for all ticket holders

Family Day> A day of free activities for the whole family

RBC Apprentice Programme sponsored by Share the Magic sponsored by Dance About sponsored by Nutcracker Story Time sponsored by

Ballet Talks

Exploring Ballet Workshop

Creating Dances Summer Camp

Tours of the Walter Carsen Centre for The National Ballet of Canada

YOU dance

The New national.ballet.ca More to Explore!

The official National Ballet blog. Learn more about life at the ballet directly from the artists.

Follow us on Twitter and get updates in real time.

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Join over 13,500 National Ballet fans on Facebook.

Watch performance and behind-the-scenes videos on the National Ballet’s You Tube Channel.

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> Reminders before your performance date with links to show synopsis and casting> Traffic and road closure alerts

> Ballet News, our monthly e-newsletter> The option to receive your tickets by email

Visit the new national.ballet.ca/Interact and connect with us

The National Ballet’s award-winning website has in-depth information about upcoming productions and dancers with extensive photo and video galleries.

New! Download the National Ballet iPhone app to order tickets, watch videos and more.

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Embrace Your Passion

What is your passion?The DancersThese elite artists inspire us with their talent, beauty and athleticism as they create unforgettable characters and evoke the deepest of human emotions through movement.

One of the only ballet companies in Canada with an in-house orchestra, the National Ballet has always been committed to the richness and immediacy of live music for each performance.

The remarkable talents of our artists should be accessible to all Canadians and need to be showcased across the globe.

Live Orchestra Touring

We are passionate about ballet and invite you to embrace your passion!

Embrace your passion and count yourself amongst the National Ballet’s vital champions. Your donation will honour a vibrant legacy and strengthen the foundation for the National Ballet’s glorious future.

Melanie DowhaniukDonor & Volunteer

Ernie AbugovStage Manager & Donor

Jillian VanstoneFirst Soloist & Donor

Karen SparksDonor & Volunteer

Maria PelletierOrchestra Member & Donor

Linda O’LearyDonor & Volunteer

Gretchen RossDonor & Volunteer

New works are essential for revitalizing the art form and challenging artists and audiences with new styles, choreography, music and ideas.

Classical ballets remain the foundation of our art form and the National Ballet, standards against which all companies and artists are judged.

The National Ballet believes in the importance of arts education in the development of young people and in promoting movement, creativity and imagination for all in our community.

Inspiring Young PeopleInnovative New WorkThe Classical Legacy

Make a gift today with your subscription and let us know what you’re most passionate about.

Lucille JosephDonor & Volunteer

Keiichi HiranoFirst Soloist & Donor

Peter OttmannSenior Ballet Master & Donor

Jason DehniDonor & Volunteer

Grant HeapsAssistant Wardrobe Coordinator & Donor

Ann HogarthDonor & Volunteer

Krista KerrDonor & Volunteer

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th Anniversary Special Events

His Worship, Mayor Rob Ford will proclaim November 14 to 20, 2011 The National Ballet of Canada Week. The announcement coincides with the opening of an archival display at Toronto City Hall Rotunda and the world premiere of Romeo and Juliet.

The National Ballet of Canada Week

Writer and historian James Neufeld will update his acclaimed book, Power to Rise, which brilliantly chronicles the story of The National Ballet of Canada. Originally published in 1996, Power to Rise will feature many new interviews and images. The new Power to Rise is published by Dundurn Press and will be released in the fall of 2011.

Power to Rise, The Story of The National Ballet of Canada – Updated and Re-issued

Be there for the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Romeo and Juliet, the highlight event of the 60th anniversary season! All ticket holders will be part of the special celebration.

World Premiere of Romeo and Juliet on November 16 at 7:30 pm

The tutu is ballet’s most universally recognized symbol and to celebrate the National Ballet’s 60th anniversary, 60 tutus will be displayed during the 2011/12 season. The 60 tutus will include costumes from some of the great moments in the company’s history. Tutus celebrating the company’s landmark anniversary will also be created by the community including school children, Canadian designers and artists as well as visitors to Word on the Street, the Pride Parade, Nuit Blanche and more!

The Tutu Project

The Tutu Project is sponsored byTHE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE,THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA.


Karen Kain’s Bluebird tutu from The Sleeping Beauty, worn in 1972 at the Moscow International Ballet Competition. Ms. Kain won the Silver Medal in the Women’s Category.

Toronto City Hall

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Opening Night Celebrations sponsored by

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the support of the following:

The National Ballet of Canada proudly thanks its 60th Anniversary season partners:

Official Suppliers

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts which last year invested $15 million in dance throughout Canada.

Nous remercions de son soutien le Conseil des Arts du Canada, qui a investi 15 millions de dollars l’an dernier dans la danse à travers le Canada.

The Government of Canada through the Honourable James Moore, Minister, the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Lead philanthropic support for Romeo and Juliet provided by Sandra & Jim Pitblado with additional generous support from

Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, an anonymous friend of the National Ballet and Walter Carsen, O.C.


Photography:National Ballet repertoire, rehearsal and outreach photos by Aleksandar Antonijevic, Andrew Oxenham, Vyacheslav Podorozhy, Gene Schiavone (American Ballet Theatre), Sian Richards, Setareh Sarmadi, Stuttgart Ballet, Cylla von Tiedemann and Bruce Zinger.60th Anniversary and archive photos by Ken Bell, Judy Cameron, Anthony Crickmay, Barry Gray, Andrew Oxenham, Lydia Pawelak, Johan Persson, David Street, Cylla von Tiedemann and the Toronto Star.60th Anniversary Events photos by Bruce Zinger, Setareh Sarmadi and Benson Kua.Karen Kain, Principal Dancer, Staff/Artist/Donor photos by Sian Richards.

Cover Image:Tanya Howard and Brendan Saye. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.Back Cover Image:Tanya Howard and Zdenek Konvalina in Chroma. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

2011/12 Season Sponsors BMO Financial Group presents Romeo and Juliet

RBC Apprentice Programme

Dance About Title Sponsor

Dancers First Award SponsorShare The Magic Title Sponsor

TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker and Nutcracker Story Time

Series SponsorChroma & Song of a Wayfarer & Elite Syncopationsare presented by KPMG

Official Airline Official Hospitality PartnerOfficial Dry Cleaner Official Tour Transportation Sponsor

Thank You

Official Event Supplier Official Travel Supplier

Mailing AddressThe Walter Carsen Centrefor The National Ballet of Canada470 Queens Quay WestToronto, Ontario Canada M5V 3K4

Audience and Donor Services416 345 95951 866 345 9595

national.ballet.ca

Fall Season World Premiere! Romeo&Juliet

Holiday SeasonThe Nutcracker

Winter SeasonLa Fille mal gardée

The Sleeping Beauty

The Seagull

Summer SeasonNew! Hamlet

Chroma Back by Popular Demand!& Song of a Wayfarer& Elite Syncopations

2011|12 season is presented by

2011|12


Brochure 1112

Documents

Transcript of Brochure 1112