, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

PRESENTS

national..ca Alexandra MacDonald is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. Alexandra MacDonald, Andreas Kaas and Félix Paquet with Artists of the Ballet. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic. Félix Paquet is sponsored through Dancers First by Stephen Delaney. Come and Discover the Difference Please join us at our Open House

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www.crestwood.on.ca cis December 12, 2015—January 3, 2016

Choreography and Libretto: . O.C. Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Set and Costume Designs: Santo Loquasto Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton Canada’s National Ballet School Rehearsal Director: Laurel Toto, assisted by Patrick Kastoff Répétiteurs: Peter Ottmann, Mandy-Jayne Richardson, Magdalena Popa, , Lindsay Fischer and Lorna Geddes

Conductors: David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor (Dec 12 mat/eve, 13 mat, 16, 18, 19 mat, 20 mat/eve, 22 eve, 23 mat, 28, 30, Jan 2 eve) Gordon Gerrard, Guest Conductor (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve, 22 mat, 23 eve, 27 mat/eve, 29 mat/eve, Jan 2 mat, 3)

This production of is dedicated to and . With respect, admiration and gratitude. J.K.

Made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence & Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

Contents 6 Cast 8 Synopsis 10 The Nutcracker: 20 Years of Magic 12 The Nutcracker: By the Numbers 14 Selected Biographies 20 Dancers 34 Nutcracker Activities

The National Ballet of Canada Programme Editors: Julia Drake and Belinda Bale | Design: Kyle Greenwood Advertising and Printing: Mirvish Media

Jurgita Dronina. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic, The National Ballet of Canada

Celia Franca, C.C., Founder

George Crum, Music Director Emeritus

Karen Kain, C.C. Barry Hughson Artistic Director Executive Director

David Briskin Rex Harrington, O.C. Music Director and Artist-in-Residence Principal Conductor

Magdalena Popa Lindsay Fischer Principal Artistic Artistic Director, Coach YOU dance / Principal Ballet Master

Peter Ottmann Mandy-Jayne Richardson Senior Ballet Master Senior Ballet Mistress

Guillaume Côté, Jurgita Dronina, Naoya Ebe, Greta Hodgkinson, Elena Lobsanova, Svetlana Lunkina, McGee Maddox, Evan McKie, Heather Ogden, Sonia Rodriguez, Piotr Stanczyk, Jillian Vanstone, Xiao Nan Yu

Lorna Geddes, Stephanie Hutchison, Etienne Lavigne, Alejandra Perez-Gomez, Jonathan Renna, Rebekah Rimsay, Tomas Schramek, Hazaros Surmeyan

Skylar Campbell, Jordana Daumec, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Tanya Howard, Harrison James, Chelsy Meiss, Tina Pereira, Jenna Savella, Robert Stephen, Dylan Tedaldi

Jack Bertinshaw, Hannah Fischer, Emma Hawes, Kathryn Hosier, Alexandra MacDonald, Tiffany Mosher*, Brent Parolin, Brendan Saye

Trygve Cumpston, Erika Delponte, Shaila D’Onofrio, Rhiannon Fairless, Giorgio Galli, Christopher Gerty, Selene Guerrero-Trujillo, Spencer Hack, Rui Huang, Lise-Marie Jourdain, Soo Ah Kang, Larissa Khotchenkova, Miyoko Koyasu, Elizabeth Marrable, Timoteo Mock, Shino Mori, Jaclyn Oakley, Andreea Olteanu, Félix Paquet, Meghan Pugh, Alec Roberts, Ben Rudisin, Kota Sato, Calley Skalnik, Laurynas Vejalis, Nan Wang, Ethan Watts

RBC Apprentice Programme / YOU dance: Eric Beckham, Jimmy Coleman, Eric da Silva, Eleanor Frith, Jeannine Haller, Lauren Janeway, Clare Peterson, Charlotte Reid, Andrew Tomlinson, Isaac Wright

Robert Binet Lorna Geddes Joysanne Sidimus Guillaume Côté Pointe Shoe Manager / Guest Balanchine Choreographic Associates Assistant Ballet Mistress Répétiteur

Jeff Morris Michael Lewandowski Liliane Stillwell Assistant Stage Manager * Maternity/Parental Leave Stage Managers

4 Orchestra David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor

Violin 1 Elaine Thompson Trombones Aaron Schwebel, Concertmaster Marianne Pack David Archer, Principal Lynn Kuo, Assistant Concertmaster Andrew McIntosh Robert Ferguson Anne Armstrong + Jill Vitols + Dave Pell, Bass Trombone James Aylesworth Paul Widner Jennie Baccante Tuba Sheldon Grabke Basses Sasha Johnson, Principal Nancy Kershaw Hans. J.F. Preuss, Principal Sonia Klimasko-Leheniuk Robert Speer, Acting Assistant Principal Harp Yakov Lerner Brian Baty + Lucie Parent, Principal Jayne Maddison Tom Hazlitt Wendy Rogers Paul Langley Tympani Paul Zevenhuizen Greg Sheldon + Michael Perry, Principal

Violin 2 Flutes Celeste Dominique Laplante, Principal Second Leslie J. Allt, Principal Edward Connell Violin Shelley Brown * Andrei Streliaev Csaba Koczó, Acting Assistant Principal Maria Pelletier 2nd Violin Kevin O’Donnell, Piccolo Percussion Aya Miyagawa Kristofer Maddigan, Acting Principal Bethany Bergman + Oboes Mark Mazur Xiao Grabke * Mark Rogers, Principal Shelia Jaffe + Karen Rotenberg Orchestra Personnel Manager Hiroko Kagawa + Lesley Young, English Horn and Music Administrator Jamie Kruspe + Raymond Tizzard Rene + Clarinets Ron Mah Max Christie, Principal Librarian Filip Tomov Colleen Cook + Lucie Parent Ashley Vandiver + Gary Kidd, Bass Clarinet Sonia Vizante + Emily Marlow * *On Leave of Absence Joanna Zabrowarna Bassoons +Additional Musician Violas Stephen Mosher, Principal Angela Rudden, Principal Jerry Robinson Joshua Greenlaw, Assistant Principal Elizabeth Gowen, Contra-Bassoon Shannon Knights + Valerie Kuinka Horns Johann Lotter Gary Pattison, Principal Rory McLeod + Vincent Barbee Nicholaos Papadakis + Derek Conrod Beverley Spotton Diane Doig + Larry Toman * Christine Passmore + Scott Wevers Cellos Maurizio Baccante, Principal Trumpets Peter Cosbey + Richard Sandals, Principal Alastair Eng + Mark Dharmaratnam Mary Katherine Finch + Robert Weymouth Olga Laktionova

national.ballet.ca 5 Cast

ACT I Parents, Children, Aunts, Uncles, Servants, Bears Scene 1, A Barn and a Horse Artists of The National Ballet of Canada+^ and Peter, a stable boy Students of Canada’s National Ballet School Skylar Campbell (Dec 12 mat, 23 mat, 28, Jan 2 eve) Guillaume Côté (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 eve) Scene 2, The Battle of the Tsar of the Mice Evan McKie (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat) Piotr Stanczyk (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve) The Nutcracker Naoya Ebe* (Dec 19 mat, 20 eve, 30) Skylar Campbell (Dec 12 mat, 23 mat, 28, Jan 2 eve) Harrison James* (Dec 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) Guillaume Côté (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 eve) McGee Maddox (Dec 23 eve, 27 eve, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Evan McKie (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat) Piotr Stanczyk (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve) Marie Naoya Ebe* (Dec 19 mat, 20 eve, 30) Maya Fazzari Harrison James* (Dec 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) (Dec 12 mat, 19 mat, 20 eve, 23 mat, 28, 30, Jan 2 eve) McGee Maddox (Dec 23 eve, 27 eve, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Jacqueline Sugianto (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) The Tsar of the Mice Emily Piotrowski (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat, 22 eve, 29 eve) Kota Sato or Dylan Tedaldi or Jack Bertinshaw or Pravda Tranfield Ethan Watts (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve, 23 eve, 27 eve, Jan 2 mat)

Misha, Marie’s brother Baby Mice Students of Canada’s National Ballet School (Associates Max Raszewski (Dec 12 mat, 19 mat, 20 eve, 23 mat, 28, 30, Jan 2 eve) Programme) Adam Hone (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) Ethan Clarisey (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat, 22 eve, 29 eve) Dogs, Cats and Mice Andrew Larose Students of Canada’s National Ballet and participating (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve, 23 eve, 27 eve, Jan 2 mat) schools listed on page 7.

Baba, Marie and Misha’s nurse Goat and Rooster Alejandra Perez-Gomez Students of Canada’s National Ballet School (Dec 12 mat, 19 mat, 20 eve, 23 mat, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Rebekah Rimsay Scene 3, The Land of Snow (Dec 12 eve, 16, 19 eve, 22 eve, 28, 30, Jan 2 eve) Stephanie Hutchison* (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat, 23 eve, 27 eve) Snow Queen and her Icicles Andreea Olteanu Alexandra MacDonald, Brent Parolin, Nan Wang (Dec 13 eve, 17, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) (Dec 12 mat, 19 eve, 27 eve, 29 eve, Jan 2 eve) Xiao Nan Yu, Ben Rudisin*, Brendan Saye Marie and Misha’s parents (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 eve) Tanya Howard or Stephanie Hutchison or Alejandra Elena Lobsanova, Brent Parolin, Nan Wang Perez-Gomez or Alexandra MacDonald (Dec 13 mat, 18, 22 mat) Tanya Howard, Giorgio Galli, Jack Bertinshaw Etienne Lavigne or Brent Parolin or Brendan Saye (Dec 13 eve, 17, 23 mat) Emma Hawes*, Ben Rudisin*, Brendan Saye Uncle Nikolai (Dec 19 mat, 23 eve, 29 mat, Jan 3) Hannah Fischer*, Harrison James, Félix Paquet Jonathan Renna (Dec 12 mat, 13 mat, 18, 19 mat, 20 mat) (Dec 20 mat, 28, Jan 2 mat) Robert Stephen (Dec 12 eve, 16, 20 eve, 22 eve, 28, 30) Jenna Savella, Giorgio Galli, Jack Bertinshaw Dylan Tedaldi (Dec 13 eve, 17, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) (Dec 20 eve, 27 mat, 30) Jack Bertinshaw* (Dec 19 eve, 23 eve, 27 eve, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Snow Maidens Piotr Stanczyk (Dec 23 mat, Jan 2 eve) Artists of The National Ballet of Canada^

Unicorns Students of Canada’s National Ballet School

6 INTERMISSION A Flock of Lambs Students of Canada’s National Ballet School ACT II (Associates Programme) The Palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy A Fox Courtiers, Guards, Ladies-in-Waiting Dylan Tedaldi (Dec 12 mat, 19 mat, 20 eve, 23 mat, 30) Students of Canada’s National Ballet School Giorgio Galli (Dec 12 eve, 16, 18, 22 eve, 28, Jan 2 eve) Skylar Campbell (Dec 13 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat) The Sugar Plum Fairy Robert Stephen (Dec 13 eve, 19 eve, 23 eve, 27 eve) Jillian Vanstone (Dec 12 mat, 23 mat, 28, Jan 2 eve) Francesco Gabriele Frola* Heather Ogden (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 eve) (Dec 17, 20 mat, 22 mat, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat, Jan 3) Svetlana Lunkina (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat) Sonia Rodriguez (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve) Waiters Jurgita Dronina* (Dec 19 mat, 20 eve, 30) Spencer Hack or Eric Beckham or Andrew Tomlinson, Tina Pereira (Dec 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) Christopher Gerty or Alec Roberts or Jimmy Coleman, Elena Lobsanova (Dec 23 eve, 27 eve, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Kota Sato or Isaac Wright or Timoteo Mock, Laurynas Vejalis or Eric da Silva or Ethan Watts Empress Dowager Baba Alejandra Perez-Gomez Chefs (Dec 12 mat, 19 mat, 20 eve, 23 mat, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Students of Canada’s National Ballet School Rebekah Rimsay (Dec 12 eve, 16, 19 eve, 22 eve, 28, 30, Jan 2 eve) A Bee Stephanie Hutchison* (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat, 23 eve, 27 eve) Tina Pereira (Dec 12 mat, 23 mat, 28, Jan 2 eve) Andreea Olteanu Tanya Howard (Dec 12 eve, 16, 22 eve, 23 eve) (Dec 13 eve, 17, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) Jordana Daumec (Dec 13 mat, 18, 20 mat, 29 eve) Jenna Savella (Dec 13 eve, 17, 19 eve, 27 eve) Grand Duke Nikolai Rui Huang (Dec 19 mat, 20 eve, 30, Jan 2 mat) Jonathan Renna (Dec 12 mat, 13 mat, 18, 19 mat, 20 mat) Selene Guerrero-Trujillo (Dec 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) Robert Stephen (Dec 12 eve, 16, 20 eve, 22 eve, 28, 30) Dylan Tedaldi (Dec 13 eve, 17, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat, Jan 3) Flowers and Branches Jack Bertinshaw* Artists of The National Ballet of Canada+^ (Dec 19 eve, 23 eve, 27 eve, 29 eve, Jan 2 mat) Piotr Stanczyk (Dec 23 mat, Jan 2 eve) * Debut

Spanish Chocolate + Includes additional dancer Donald Thom, by kind permission of Andreea Olteanu or Tina Pereira or Calley Skalnik, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association Meghan Pugh or Shaila D’Onofrio or Jordana Daumec, Jack Bertinshaw or Francesco Gabriele Frola or ^ Includes additional dancers Nicole Blain, Thaila Crymble, Kota Sato Megan Storm Hill and Allison Lang by kind permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Miyoko Koyasu or Rui Huang or Erika Delponte, All casting subject to change. Soo Ah Kang or Selene Guerrero-Trujillo or Chelsy Meiss, Giorgio Galli or Laurynas Vejalis or Spencer Hack

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges its collaboration, in the Arabian Coffee production of The Nutcracker, with Canada’s National Ballet School and students of: Jenna Savella or Stephanie Hutchison or Chelsy Meiss Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto Markville Secondary School Bill Crothers Secondary School Michael Power High School or Kathryn Hosier, Ben Rudisin or Nan Wang Branksome Hall Nativity Of Our Lord School Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts Northern Secondary School Cardinal Leger Catholic School O’Neill Collegiate & Vocational Institute Tanya Howard or Alejandra Perez-Gomez or Cawthra Park Secondary School Pringle Creek Public School Clarington Central Secondary School Riverdale Collegiate Institute Alexandra MacDonald, Brent Parolin or Courtice Intermediate & Secondary School Rosedale Heights School of the Arts Courtice Secondary School St. Clement’s School Brendan Saye De La Salle College St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary Don Mills Collegiate Institute School Earl Haig Secondary School St. John Bosco Secondary School A Sheep Eastdale Collegiate & Vocational Institute St. Martha & Mary Catholic School Edenwood Middle School St. Robert Catholic High School Shaila D’Onofrio (Dec 12 mat, 17, 19 mat, 23 mat, 30, Jan 2 mat) Etobicoke School of the Arts St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary Forest Hill Collegiate Institute School Chelsy Meiss (Dec 12 eve, 18, 22 eve, 28, 29 eve, Jan 2 eve) George Harvey Collegiate Institute Trillium Waldorf School Meghan Pugh* (Dec 13 mat, 16, 20 mat, 22 mat, 27 mat, 29 mat) Glenview Senior Public School Unionville High School Greenwood College School Schools Miyoko Koyasu* Havergal College Ursula Franklin Academy (Dec 13 eve, 19 eve, 20 eve, 23 eve, 27 eve, Jan 3) Julie Payette Public School Victoria Park Collegiate Institute Kingsway College School Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute York Mills Collegiate Institute Malvern Collegiate Institute

national.ballet.ca 7 Synopsis

ACT I It’s the night before Christmas in 19th-century competition to see who can stay awake the Russia and Marie, Misha, their parents and their longest. Eventually they fall asleep and their beloved nursemaid Baba are busy preparing for magnificent dream begins. the annual Christmas Eve party at their country estate. As the curtain rises, Peter, the stable Just as the clock strikes twelve, six pesky boy (and Marie’s and Misha’s best friend), is little mice scurry in but Nikolai, stranger and sweeping the barn one last time before the wilder than ever, dashes out and scares them guests arrive. away. Taking pity on poor Marie, he returns her Nutcracker, tucks it beneath the nursery Marie and Misha burst into the barn, Christmas tree and vanishes from sight. squabbling furiously despite the patient efforts of Baba and Peter to calm them down. Ominously, the children’s beds begin to Suddenly a rat scuttles across the floor, rock and shake waking Marie and Misha. disrupting everything until Peter outsmarts Their Christmas tree has come to life and it. Four neighbouring families arrive and the the Nutcracker has grown, his features have dancing begins. somehow been transformed to look exactly like their friend Peter. All of a sudden, a mysterious man dressed in red appears in a sleigh. It’s Nikolai, the Other toys, too, have magically come to life unpredictable uncle who lives down the road, and a regiment of wolfhounds rides in, only to whose alarming spins and flamboyant gestures be vanquished by demonic cats. Then an evil both terrifies and delights the company. brigade of mice invades the room to attack Magically he tweaks bright fresh oranges from the cats. Meanwhile, the cruel Tsar of the Mice the guests’ ears, hats and clothes as well as challenges the Nutcracker to mortal combat producing a pair of dancing bears, one of and all seems lost. them on skates. To crown everything, Nikolai unhitches his old mare and, to everyone’s With the ingenuity of despair Marie and Misha amazement, they energetically dance together. save the Nutcracker by combining forces to banish the frenzied cats and dogs and they Nikolai has brought special gifts for all the conquer the Tsar of the Mice with their feather children, but after all the presents have been pillows. In relief and sheer exhaustion, Marie, handed out, there is nothing left for Marie. Misha and the Nutcracker collapse on the bed. Quickly Nikolai gives Marie a Nutcracker in the shape of a handsome soldier which he’d The bed begins to move again but this time intended for her parents. The continuing it carries them on a magical journey. Through hostilities between Marie and Misha erupt once ice-laced trees and feathery snowflakes they more as they fight over the Nutcracker until see the Snow Queen, supported by two Icicles. their father confiscates it. Marie, Misha, and the Nutcracker dance joyfully with the snowflakes and the Snow Baba takes Marie and Misha back to the Queen bestows upon them a magnificent gift: a house to put them to bed but inevitably their beautiful ice-boat attended by unicorns. skirmishes begin again – this time, it’s a

8 Running Time

Act I 49m Intermission 20m Act II 46m Total (approx) 2h ACT II The ice-boat carries the children and the gates burst open to admit a single Nutcracker to the secret Kingdom of the Sugar Bee and a host of Flowers to dance in the Plum Fairy, who lives in a beautiful Fabergé warm spring breeze. egg at the centre of a golden palace, carefully guarded by her loyal courtiers. Nikolai and In the midst of all this excitement, Marie and Baba, transformed into the Grand Duke and Misha have noticed that the Nutcracker has Duchess, are there to greet them. fallen deeply in love with the Sugar Plum Fairy. All at once the world of the Sugar Plum Naturally, the courtiers are eager to discover Fairy begins to vanish and the children find how their unexpected guests happened to find themselves in their own room being put to bed the palace and beg the Nutcracker, Marie and by Baba. As Marie and Misha fall back to sleep Misha to recount their marvellous adventures. just before daybreak, the Nutcracker and the As a reward for the children’s courage and Sugar Plum Fairy bid them goodbye. Somehow compassion, the courtiers order a splendid during this night the children have passed banquet that mingles grown-up food with together through the magical yet natural portal childhood favourites. between childhood and adolescence, and somehow they know that their lives will never The first course, much to the children’s again be quite the same. Henceforth, like their delight, is Chocolate, with a delicate Spanish friend the Nutcracker, they will set forth to find flavouring. The second, Coffee, heralds the and follow their own dreams. pleasures of adulthood – and oddly enough, quite the opposite of anyone’s expectations, its sinuous fumes put the child-courtiers to sleep! Embarrassed by the courtiers’ inattentiveness, Misha and Marie wake everyone up just in time to enjoy the spectacle of four inept royal chefs trying to catch the poultry course.

There follow two dances that hint at the loving nature of parenthood: a bright, cheerful Trepak for the Nutcracker and a dance for Baba as a shepherdess with lambs and a Sheep-princess pursued by a Fox.

At last four zany Waiters bring in a magical table while the chefs attempt to put the finishing touches on the great repast. When the feast is finally prepared, Marie and Misha assume the places of honour and enjoy a food fight in what may be their last chance to misbehave as young children. Suddenly all traces of winter have gone and the palace

national.ballet.ca 9 The Nutcracker 20 Years of Magic 1995–2015

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The National Ballet of Canada’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by James Kudelka. Hailed “the best Nutcracker on the planet” by The Globe and Mail, this celebrated holiday tradition has delighted over a million adults and children since its premiere in 1995.

Clockwise: James Kudelka (1995). Victoria Bertram with Students of Canada’s National Ballet School (1996). Greta Hodgkinson, Aleksandar Antonijevic and Robert Tewsley as the Snow Queen and Icicles (1995). James Kudelka and Santo Loquasto (1995). Santo Loquasto, Chan Hon Goh, Angela Arana and James Kudelka (1995). Photos by Andrew Oxenham and Cylla von Tiedemann.

10 The First Sugar Plum Fairy Martine Lamy

Principal Dancer Martine Lamy created the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in 1995. She retired from the company in 2005 and is now a teacher at Canada’s National Ballet School.

Note: The courtier in the background is Evan McKie at age 13 when he was a student at Canada’s National Ballet School!

The First Peter/Nutcracker The First Marie and Misha Rex Harrington The first Marie and Misha were Susan McElhinney and Warren Benns, then Principal Dancer Rex Harrington created students of Canada’s National Ballet the role of Peter/The Nutcracker in 1995. School. He retired from the company in 2004 and is Martine Lamy (1995). Victoria Bertram and Rex Harrington (1995). currently Artist-in-Residence. Susan McElhinney and Warren Benns (1995). Photos by Jeff Goode and David Street.

national.ballet.ca 11 The Nutcracker By the Numbers

Number of people who have attended The Nutcracker since 1995: 1,004,880

Number of performances of The Nutcracker since its premiere: 469

Number of children and their families who have attended The Nutcracker for free through the Share the Magic programme: 42,044

Number of Celebrity Cannon Dolls including Chris Hadfield, Mats Sundin, Margaret Atwood, Kurt Browning, Rick Mercer, Mayor John Tory and many more: 938

Number of dancers who have performed the role of Marie and the Sugar Plum Fairy: 1 (Elena Lobsanova)

Elena Lobsanova is sponsored through Dancers First by Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan. Number of students from Canada’s National Ballet School and schools in Toronto who perform in each show: 98

Number of animals in The Nutcracker: 59 (1 rat, 1 horse, 2 bears, 1 ram, 1 rooster, 1 mouse Tsar, 8 Cossack mice, 8 baby mice, 8 dog soldiers, 10 cat soldiers, 6 unicorns, 1 fox, 1 sheep, 9 lambs and 1 bee)

Number of pointe shoes used in every performance of The Nutcracker: 43

Number of pounds of paper released in the snow scene in each performance: 10

Number of performances cancelled due to snow: 0

To see behind the scenes video of The Nutcracker visit national.ballet.ca

Share your memories @nationalballet #TheNutcrackerNBC #Nutcracker20

Artists of the Ballet. Inset: Megan Storm Hill and Artists of the Ballet. Elena Lobsanova. Etienne Lavigne. Selene Guerrero-Trujillo. Photos by Aleksandar Antonijevic, Lydia Pawelak and Bruce Zinger. Selected Biographies

Artistic Director Karen Kain has led The National Ballet of Canada with great success for the past 10 years. Her many accomplishments include returning the company to the international stage, commissioning exciting new work and forming partnerships with leading ballet companies such as . Long recognized as one of the most gifted classical dancers of her era, noted for her compelling characterizations and versatility as a performer, she is one of Canada’s most renowned and committed advocates for the arts. Born in Hamilton, , Ms. Kain received her training at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto, joining the National Ballet in 1969. In 1973, Ms. Kain was awarded the Silver Medal in the Women’s Category at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Moscow and, along with Frank Augustyn, received a special prize for Best Pas de Deux. Subsequently, she embarked on a remarkable international career performing with such companies as Paris Opéra Ballet, ’s Karen Kain Le Ballet de Marseilles, the , London Festival Ballet and C.C., LL.D., D. Litt., O.Ont. Ballet. Throughout her career she developed a close creative partnership with Rudolf Artistic Director Nureyev and often performed with him. Ms. Kain retired from dancing following a farewell tour in 1997 and took up the position of Artist-in-Residence with the company (later expanded to that of Artistic Associate). She became Artistic Director in 2005.

Barry Hughson has served the performing arts field for 23 years as a professional arts executive. In 2014, he joined The National Ballet of Canada as Executive Director. Mr. Hughson was previously Executive Director of Boston Ballet. Under Mr. Hughson’s leadership, Boston Ballet achieved several key milestones, including the retirement of its long term debt, completing a multi-million dollar renovation of the ballet’s headquarters and international tours to Canada, Spain, Finland and the UK, as well as raising more than $60 million dollars in contributed revenue. As an arts advocate, consultant and educator, Mr. Hughson has had teaching and speaking engagements in the US, Europe and South America. He is the Vice Chair of Dance/USA, North America’s largest service organization for professional dance. He is a founding member of Dance/USA’s National Leadership Council for Dance and has served as a mentor to emerging arts executives through the Institute for Leadership Training. In January 2015, in partnership with Dance/ Barry Hughson USA, Mr. Hughson spearheaded the first-ever meeting of North American and European Executive Director dance leaders, bringing together 22 administrators from nine countries for two days of meetings at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London. In Canada, Mr. Hughson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Dance Assembly and serves on the Steering Committee for the Canadian Arts Summit. Mr. Hughson began his career as a dancer with The Washington (DC) Ballet, where he performed classical and contemporary repertoire at the Kennedy Center and on tour throughout the world.

14 One of the most highly respected conductors at work today, an insightful interpreter of works from not just the ballet canon, but the operatic, symphonic and choral traditions as well, David Briskin is widely recognized as one of contemporary ballet’s most accomplished conductors. 2015-16 marks his 10th season as Music Director and Principal Conductor of The National Ballet of Canada. Previously Mr. Briskin served for seven years as Conductor with leading performances with the company at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York’s City Center and in major opera houses throughout the world. He worked as a seasonal conductor with New York City Ballet conducting more than 35 different over two years and as Conductor of The Juilliard School’s Dance Division for 12 years. As a guest conductor Mr. Briskin appears seasonally at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, most recently conducting ’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as well as the David Briskin world premiere and DVD recording of The Winter’s Tale. Mr. Briskin has also appeared Music Director and with nearly all of the major North American ballet companies. Equally at home with Principal Conductor orchestral and operatic repertoire, Mr. Briskin has conducted the Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinnati Pops, Indianapolis, Windsor and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras, among others, as well as for Calgary Opera, Manitoba Opera, Opera Carolina, Lake George Opera and Sarasota Opera.

James Kudelka is among todays’ most versatile and innovative dance artists. He has choreographed for many of the world’s leading ballet companies as well as for smaller, contemporary troupes. His creative range as a choreographer reflects his eclectic musical interests, command of diverse movement idioms and commitment to working collaboratively with artists from other disciplines. Mr. Kudelka is renowned for distinctive versions of such classics as The Nutcracker, and Cinderella, all signature works of The National Ballet of Canada where he served as Artistic Director (1996–2005). Equally, Mr. Kudelka excels in making smaller-scaled dances that while outwardly abstract are rich in psychological implication and human drama. Mr. Kudelka was born in Newmarket, Ontario and trained at Canada’s National Ballet School. He began choreographing as a student and continued throughout his dancing years with the National Ballet (1972–1981) and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (1981–1990). Mr. James Kudelka, O.C. Kudelka, nowadays also in demand as a teacher, made his debut in 2015 as a stage Choreographer director with Heinrich von Kleist’s The Prince of Homburg. Mr. Kudelka considers his artistic sensibility to be distinctly Canadian. He remains strongly loyal to his native soil – an intellectual and spiritual territory he understands deeply. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.

national.ballet.ca 15 Santo Loquasto is a designer for dance, theatre and film. He has collaborated with choreographers , Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kenneth MacMillan, Agnes de Mille, James Kudelka and Mark Morris. Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove marked the beginning of a long-term relationship with American Ballet Theatre. As designer for the Paul Taylor Dance Company, he has designed a total of 50 pieces. Mr. Loquasto received his first Tony in 1977 for costume designs for The Cherry Orchard. In 1989, he won both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his set design of the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Café Crown and, in 1990, he again won both awards for his costume design for Grand Hotel. For his other work in theatre, he has received an Obie, the Joseph Maharam Award, both Outer Critics’ Circle and Drama Desks Awards and a total of 18 Tony nominations. For film, Mr. Loquasto has received Academy Award nominations for production design for Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway and Radio Days and for Santo Loquasto costume design for Allen’s Zelig. Other film credits includeDesperately Seeking Susan, Set and Costume Big and, most recently, Irrational Man. Designer

Jennifer Tipton is well known for her work in dance, theatre and opera. Her recent work in dance includes Liam Scarlett’s The Age of Anxiety for The Royal Ballet, ’s Shostakovich Trilogy for and American Ballet Theatre as well as Paul Taylor’s American Dreamer. Her recent work in theatre includes The Testament of Mary at London’s Barbican Theater, Rasheeda Speaking at The New Group and Richard Nelson’s The Apple Family Plays at New York’s Public Theater. In opera, recent credits include Il Trovatore at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Giovanni directed by Daniel Witzke at Opera San Jose, L’Elisir D’Amore directed by Bartlett Sher and Maria Stuarda directed by Sir David McVicar at the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Tipton teaches lighting at the Yale School of Drama. She received the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in 2001, the Jerome Robbins Prize in 2003 and the Mayor’s Award for Arts and Culture in April 2004 in New York City. In 2008, Ms. Tipton was made a United States Artists Gracie Jennifer Tipton Fellow and a MacArthur Fellow. Lighting Design

Gordon Gerrard is a respected figure in the new generation of Canadian musicians. Trained first as a pianist and subsequently as a specialist in operatic repertoire, Mr. Gerrard brings a fresh perspective to the podium. His passion and his dedication to producing thrilling musical experiences have endeared him to his fellow musicians and the public alike. After two successful seasons as Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), Mr. Gerrard has been promoted to the newly created post of Associate Conductor. He was also appointed Music Director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra effective July 2016. This season, Mr. Gerrard will lead the VSO in concerts on the Masterworks, Tea & Trumpets and Kids’ Koncerts series and returns to Calgary Opera to lead their production of Lakmé in November. The Nutcracker marks his debut with The National Ballet of Canada. Guest appearances also include two Masterworks concerts for the Regina Symphony Orchestra as well as debuts with the Victoria Symphony and the Gordon Gerrard Sudbury Symphony. Guest Conductor

16 Born in Toronto, Jeff Morris studied technical theatre production and administration at Ryerson’s Theatre School. After leaving Ryerson, he became Production Stage Manager for Toronto Dance Theatre (1990—1995). With Toronto Dance Theatre he toured extensively, stage managing the company’s debuts in Berlin, Warsaw, Beijing, Tokyo and at the Joyce Theater, New York City. He was Production Stage Manager for Dancers For Life (AIDS Committee of Toronto, 1991—1997), Stage Manager for Theatre Passe-Muraille (Never Swim Alone, Metamorphosis of a Shadow) and for the Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists. Mr. Morris joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1995 and has since stage- managed a wide range of the company’s unique classical and contemporary repertoire, including the world premieres of James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, Cinderella, An Italian Straw Hat, Jean-Pierre Perreault’s The Comforts of Solitude, Alexei Ratmansky’s Romeo and Juliet, and company premieres of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures Jeff Morris in Wonderland and ’s Nijinsky and The Seagull. He is an adjunct faculty Stage Manager member at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and a co-director of the biannual festival dance:made in Canada/fait au Canada.

Liliane Stilwell served as Stage Manager for the Canadian Opera Company for the past 22 years. Some highlights include Don Quichotte, Barber of Seville, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Cenerentola, Otello, Marriage of Figaro, Götterdämmerung (complete Ring Cycle), Macbeth, La Bohème, Eugene , Madama Butterfly and was part of the team that took Oedipus Rex to the Edinburgh International Festival. She was Production Stage Manager for Grease and Stage Manager for Robin Hood and Cinderella at the Elgin, Dirty Dancing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and Hairspray at the Princess of Wales. Other credits include Tom Jones, Speed-The-Plow, Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Big River, Shear Madness, Carousel, Me and My Girl, Roar of the Greasepaint-Smell of the Crowd. Liliane was Head Stage Co-ordinator for the Papal visit World Youth Day’s Way of the Cross and has stage managed several industrial shows in Canada and the US. Liliane Stillwell Stage Manager

Born in Włocławek, Poland, Michael Lewandowski studied technical theatre production at York University, Toronto. His work for The National Ballet of Canada includes The Nutcracker and the New York tour of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Theatre work includes the world premiere and UK tour of ‘da kink in my hair (Toronto Fringe Festival & Hackney Empire), The Pillowman (Canadian Stage Theatre) and Drystreak (Grand Theatre). Past opera credits include Love Songs (Queen of Puddings), War & Peace, Death in Venice, Carmen, La Bohème, Elektra, Il Trovatore, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Dialogues des Carmélites, Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella, La Serva Padrona & The Nightingale and Other Short Fables (Canadian Opera Company). For television, he has been the floor director of Indspire Awards since 2005 (formally National Aboriginal Achievement Awards). Select festival work includes Just for Laughs Festival (Toronto) & Westfest (Ottawa).

Michael Lewandowski Assistant Stage Manager

national.ballet.ca 17 The National Ballet Orchestra The National Ballet of Canada is privileged to have its own full Orchestra with over 60 members. The Orchestra has performed in each of the National Ballet’s seasons and is led by Music Director and Principal Conductor David Briskin. The company’s first Music Director was George Crum who, along with Founder Celia Franca, was a pioneer of the company. Mr. Crum held the position from the company’s inception in 1951 to 1984, when he was appointed Music Director Emeritus. The Orchestra was led by Ermanno Florio from 1985 to 1990. Ormsby Wilkins was Music Director and Principal Conductor from 1990 to 2006. The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra has toured extensively with the company through Canada, the US and Europe. Over the years, the Orchestra has received much acclaim from audiences and critics alike and has recorded two CDs of Michael Torke’s compositions for The Contract (The Pied Piper) and An Italian Straw Hat. The Orchestra made their concert debut at Koerner Hall on April 3, 2012, in celebration of the company’s 60th anniversary.

Canada’s National Ballet School Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) is a world leader in the training of professional ballet dancers and teachers. NBS’ core program is the Professional Ballet Program which provides full-time classical ballet training integrated with a comprehensive academic education and residence for students in grades 6 to 12, and intensive dance training for post-secondary students. NBS also offers a full-time Teacher Training Program as well as part-time programs for practicing teachers, children ages 6 to 17 (the Associates Program) and recreational classes for adults. Close to 1,500 students ranging in age from 6 to 82 take classes at NBS’ award-winning facilities each week. Graduates can be found as dancers, teachers, choreographers and Artistic Directors in over 65 dance companies and even more schools around the globe. For more information on the School and its programs, please visit www.nbs-enb.ca.

VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto is a vibrant, innovative choral organization for singers ages four through twenty-five, whose mandate is to offer the opportunity to achieve artistic excellence through innovative education in a singer- centered, inclusive community. VIVA! enjoys an enduring relationship with The National Ballet of Canada, performing in more than 20 performances of The Nutcracker each holiday season for the last 16 years. Founded by Carol Woodward Ratzlaff in 2000, VIVA! is comprised of 140 choristers who, in addition to performing high-level choral music, engage in various skill-building, music-making and dramatic activities. Recognized for its Canadian commissions and diverse programming, VIVA! has appeared onstage at many major Toronto concert venues with leading artists and ensembles; and toured to England, Wales and Greece where they were silver medalists in both the SSA and SATB divisions of the Preveza International Choral Competition. In June 2016, VIVA!’s five choirs will present four performances of The Sword and the Schoolyard, their newly-commissioned opera by Dean Burry, at Daniel’s Spectrum in Regent Park. www.vivayouthsingers.com

For more information, visit national.ballet.ca

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

We acknowledge the financial support of the Bringing the arts to life The Government of Ontario through the The Volunteer Committee, Government of Canada De l'art plein la vie Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of The National Ballet through the Department Tourism, Culture and Sport. of Canadian Heritage of Canada via the Endowment Incentives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund.

The National Ballet of Canada operates under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The National Ballet of Canada is a member of the Canadian Dance Assembly and Dance/USA.

18 We are proud to work together with The National Ballet of Canada to make lasting memories for families and a lasting difference in our communities.

A proud sponsor of The Nutcracker and Nutcracker Story Time

Svetlana Lunkina with Artists of the Ballet in The Nutcracker. Photo by Bruce Zinger. Guillaume Côté Jurgita Dronina Principal Dancer Principal Dancer

Born: Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec Born: Saratov, Russia Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Trained: National M. K. Ciulionis School Joined National Ballet: 1998 of Art and International Ballet Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2004 Academy Sponsored by Emmanuelle Gattuso Royal Swedish Ballet: 2005—2010 and Allan Slaight : 2010—2015 Joined as Principal Dancer: 2015

Naoya Ebe Greta Hodgkinson Principal Dancer Principal Dancer

Born: Tokyo, Japan Born: Providence, Rhode Island Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Trained: Festival Ballet of Rhode Island Joined National Ballet: 2006 and Canada’s National Ballet School Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2015 Joined National Ballet: 1990 Sponsored by Gretchen Ross Promoted to Principal Dancer: 1996

Elena Lobsanova Svetlana Lunkina Principal Dancer Principal Dancer

Born: Moscow, Russia Born: Moscow, Russia Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Trained: Moscow Choreographic Joined National Ballet: 2004 Academy Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2015 Bolshoi Ballet: 1997—2013 Sponsored by Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Joined as Principal Dancer: 2014

McGee Maddox Evan McKie Principal Dancer Principal Dancer

Born: Spartanburg, South Carolina Born: Toronto, Ontario Trained: Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School, Academy The Kirov Academy of Ballet and the John Joined National Ballet: 2009 Cranko School Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2014 : 2001—2014 Joined as Principal Dancer: 2014

Heather Ogden Sonia Rodriguez Principal Dancer Principal Dancer

Born: Toronto, Ontario Born: Toronto, Ontario Trained: Richmond Academy of Dance Trained: with Pedro de la Cruz at the Joined National Ballet: 1998 Princess Grace Academy Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2005 Joined National Ballet: 1990 Sponsored by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2000 Gluskin

20 Piotr Stanczyk Jillian Vanstone Principal Dancer Principal Dancer

Born: Poznan, Poland Born: Nanaimo, British Columbia Trained: State Ballet School of Poznan and Trained: Kirkwood Academy of the Canada’s National Ballet School Performing Arts and Canada’s National Joined National Ballet: 1998 Ballet School Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2008 Joined National Ballet: 1999 Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2011 Sponsored by George & Kathy Dembroski

Xiao Nan Yu Lorna Geddes Principal Dancer Principal Character Artist

Born: Dalian, China Born: Waterloo, Ontario Trained: Shen Yang School of Dance, Trained: With company co-founder Betty Beijing Dance Academy and Canada’s Oliphant National Ballet School Joined National Ballet: 1959 Joined National Ballet: 1996 Principal Character Artist since: 2005 Promoted to Principal Dancer: 2001

Stephanie Hutchison Etienne Lavigne Principal Character Artist Principal Character Artist

Born: Kitchener, Ontario Born: Montréal, Québec Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Trained: L’École supérieure de danse du Joined National Ballet: 1997 Québec, San Francisco Ballet School and Principal Character Artist since: 2015 National Ballet of Cuba Joined National Ballet: 1997 Principal Character Artist since: 2015

Alejandra Perez-Gomez Jonathan Renna Principal Character Artist Principal Character Artist

Born: Toronto, Ontario Born: Ottawa, Ontario Trained: L’École supérieure de danse du Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Québec, Princess Grace Academy and San Joined National Ballet: 1997—2000 Francisco Ballet School Rejoined: 2007 Joined National Ballet: 1998 Principal Character Artist since: 2015 Principal Character Artist since: 2013

Rebekah Rimsay Tomas Schramek Principal Character Artist Principal Character Artist

Born: Fort Collins, Colorado Born: Bratislava, Czechoslovakia Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Trained: Slovak Folk Dance Ensemble Joined National Ballet: 1990 SLUK Principal Character Artist since: 2012 Joined National Ballet: 1969 Principal Dancer: 1973—1990 Principal Character Artist since: 1990

national.ballet.ca 21 Hazaros Surmeyan Skylar Campbell Principal Character Artist First Soloist

Born: Skopje, Yugoslavia Born: Laguna Beach, California Trained: National Ballet School of Macedonia Trained: with Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky Joined as Principal Dancer: 1966 Joined National Ballet: 2009 Principal Character Artist since: 1986 First Soloist since: 2015

Jordana Daumec Francesco Gabriele Frola First Soloist First Soloist

Born: New York City, New York Born: Aosta, Italy Trained: Studio Maestro and Canada’s National Trained: Professione Danza Parma, Ballet School The School of The and Joined National Ballet: 2003 Fomento Artistico Cordobés First Soloist since: 2015 Joined National Ballet: 2010 First Soloist since: 2015 Sponsored by Sherry and Edward Drew

Tanya Howard Harrison James First Soloist First Soloist

Born: Uitenhage, South Africa Born: Paraparaumu, New Zealand Trained: The National School of Arts and Canada’s Trained: San Francisco Ballet School’s National Ballet School Trainee Program and the New Zealand Joined National Ballet: 1998 School of Dance First Soloist since: 2007 Joined National Ballet: 2013 Sponsored by Nancy Pencer First Soloist since: 2015 Sponsored by Lucy White

Chelsy Meiss Tina Pereira First Soloist First Soloist

Born: Melbourne, Australia Born: Port of Spain, Trinidad Trained: Karen Curlis School of Dance, Thelma Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Williams School of Dance, The Victorian College Joined National Ballet: 2001 of The Arts and The Australian Ballet School First Soloist since: 2009 Joined National Ballet: 2008 Sponsored by The Honourable Margaret First Soloist since: 2015 Norrie McCain, C.C. Sponsored by Diana St. B. Weatherall

Jenna Savella Robert Stephen First Soloist First Soloist

Born: Vancouver, British Columbia Born: Burlington, Ontario Trained: DanceWest and Lavrova Classical Ballet Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Academy and Canada’s National Ballet School Joined National Ballet: 2004 Joined National Ballet: 2004 First Soloist since: 2011 First Soloist since: 2015 Sponsored by Mr. Thor Eaton & Sponsored by an anonymous donor The Honourable Nicole Eaton, Senator

Artist headshots by Aleksandar Antonijevic and Sian Richards.

22 Dylan Tedaldi Jack Bertinshaw First Soloist Second Soloist

Born: Boston, Massachusetts Born: Sydney, Australia Trained: Boston Ballet School and The School of Trained: Tanya Pearson Classical The Hamburg Ballet Coaching Academy and the Tanz Joined National Ballet: 2009 Akademie Zürich First Soloist since: 2015 Joined National Ballet: 2011 Second Soloist since: 2015

Hannah Fischer Emma Hawes Second Soloist Second Soloist

Born: New York City, New York Born: Delaware, Ohio Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Trained: BalletMet’s Dance Academy Joined National Ballet: 2012 and Canada’s National Ballet School Second Soloist since: 2015 Joined National Ballet: 2011 Sponsored by Judy & Bella Matthews Second Soloist since: 2015 Sponsored by JJ Dayot & Rick Schiralli

Kathryn Hosier Alexandra MacDonald Second Soloist Second Soloist

Born: Champaign, Illinois Born: Calgary, Alberta Trained: Champaign-Urbana Ballet Academy Trained: International School of Ballet and Canada’s National Ballet School and Boston Ballet School’s Trainee Joined National Ballet: 2009 Program Second Soloist since: 2015 Joined National Ballet: 2007 Sponsored by Donna Meyers & Doug Richmond Second Soloist since: 2012 Sponsored by an anonymous donor

Tiffany Mosher Brent Parolin Second Soloist Second Soloist

Born: Halifax, Nova Scotia Born: Prince George, British Columbia Trained: Scotia Dance Studios and Canada’s Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School National Ballet School and School Joined National Ballet: 1999 Joined National Ballet: 2014 Second Soloist since: 2013 Second Soloist since: 2015

Brendan Saye Second Soloist

Born: Vancouver, British Columbia Trained: Canada’s National Ballet School Joined National Ballet: 2008 Second Soloist since: 2013 For more information on all dancers visit: Sponsored by Robin Robinson national.ballet.ca/meet/dancers

national.ballet.ca 23 ImagineImagine choosingchoosing aa caregivercaregiver Imaginewhowho choosing lovesloves ballet a caregiver too!too! Imaginewho choosing loves ballet a caregiver too! who loves ballet too!

...and can help with medical needs, ...andconvalescence, can help with meals, medical cleaning, needs, shopping, convalescence,laundry and personal meals, care. cleaning, shopping, laundry...and can and help personal with medical care. needs, ...andconvalescence,Call us can for helpa free, with meals, nurse’s medical cleaning, health/care needs, shopping, Call us for a free, nurse’s health/care convalescence,laundryassessment and personalat home meals, or care. cleaning, wherever shopping, else care assessment at home or wherever else care laundryis needed. and There’s personal No Placecare. Like Home… Celebrating 16 years of outstanding service isCall needed. us for There’sa free, nurse’s No Place health/care Like Home… Celebrating 16 years of outstanding service Callassessment us for a free,at home nurse’s or wherever health/care else care is needed. There’s No Place Like Home… Celebrating 16 years of outstanding service assessmentTel: 416.483.0070 at home or wherever else Toll care Free: 1.855.483.2273 Tel:is needed. 416.483.0070 There’s No Place Like Home… Toll Free:Ce le1.855.483.2273brating 16 years of outstanding service www.LAServices.ca Tel: 416.483.0070www.LAServices.ca Toll Free: 1.855.483.2273 Tel: 416.483.0070 Toll Free: 1.855.483.2273 PROG15_NBC_Fall2015_LivingAssistS_ad.indd 1 www.LAServices.ca 2015-10-16 3:54 PM www.LAServices.ca Corporate Sponsors

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our corporate sponsors and partners who help foster excellence and enrich our communities.

BMO Financial Group presents TD Bank Group presents RBC Apprentice Programme Le Petit Prince The Nutcracker and Nutcracker Story Time

Premiere Partner MAD HOT BALLET Thomson Reuters presents Gala Lead Sponsor The Winter’s Tale

Romeo and Juliet is is presented is presented by Chloé by KPMG presented by Ecco

Special Projects

Presenting Sponsor Dance About Title Sponsor Dancers First Award Sponsor Series Sponsor YOU dance Sponsor Share The Magic Programme

Official Suppliers

Official Dry Cleaner Official Event Supplier Official Hospitality Partner Official Media Partner Official Tour Transportation Sponsor

Official Health and Wellness Provider Official Beer Sponsor Official Floral Sponsor Official Cosmetic Sponsor

Thank you to Ferrero Rocher for supplying chocolates to the audience on opening day in honour of The Nutcracker’s 20th Anniversary.

national.ballet.ca 25 Join Us and Ex

We love to share our joy of dance by inviting donors behind the scenes. This special access is important to show the hard work and dedication that goes into each rehearsal and into staging each production.

Experience and learn more through special donor events:

»» Watch the dancers rehearse in the studios »» Tour The Walter Carsen Centre – the home of the National Ballet »» Attend dress rehearsals at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts »» Go backstage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts »» See the RBC Apprentices perform in YOU dance »» Participate in our Kids’ Movement Workshops

Donors in the Shoe Room during Friends’ Corps Night. Photo by Gary Beechey. 26 perience More

Enhance your enjoyment of ballet and support the artists who inspire you for as little as $75 or $7/month. Join Friends’ Corps today.

national.ballet.ca 416 (1 866) 345 9595

The National Ballet of Canada is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number 11905 1449 RR0001.

Alexandra MacDonald and guests at Friends’ Corps night. Photo by Gary Beechey. national.ballet.ca 27 Spark a Movement Inspiring Children and Students Through Dance

All children innately express themselves through movement and respond naturally to music. Through its outreach and educational programmes, The National Ballet of Canada is uniquely poised to affirm the spontaneity and joy of children while encouraging imagination, creativity, expression, collaboration and physicality.

Our programmes, aimed at children and students from local Toronto schools to classrooms nation- wide, use movement, music and storytelling to explore the artistry of dance. Even one spark of inspiration can connect a child to the arts, initiating a deeper exploration of its meanings and qualities and beginning a lifelong appreciation.

YOU dance

Aimed at students in grades four through six, the National Ballet offers a movement workshop in the school and a live performance by dancers in the RBC Apprentice Programme.

YOU dance is supported by Ballet Club Relevé, The McLean Foundation, Beth & Brent Wilson, J.P. Bickell Foundation, The Woodbridge Company and One Anonymous Lady.

YOU dance Live Stream

The National Ballet live streams a YOU dance performance into classrooms across Canada to introduce students to ballet and ensure accessibility for this great programme.

Student participating in a YOU dance Workshop. Photo by Bruce Zinger. YOU dance apprentices at a performance. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

28 Dance About

Dance About introduces students in grades one through six with an in-school demonstration of warm-up, performance, character, mime and make-up.

Sponsored by

Exploring Ballet Workshops

Exploring Ballet Workshops encourages students to engage the imagination and to express themselves creatively through movement.

Sponsored by an anonymous donor

Student Matinees

Specially priced tickets are available to classes of students in grades seven through 12 to attend live performances.

Artists of the Ballet during a Dance About performance. Photo by Bruce Zinger. Movement Workshop. Staff photo. Student at YOU dance performance. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

national.ballet.ca 29

FP4C AD 3 Amexon Development Corporation

488university.com

PROG15_NBC_Fall2015_AmexonDevelop_ad.indd 1 2015-10-14 3:24 PM The National Ballet of Canada

Board of Directors President the second detail Consulting Physician Barry Hughson Shaun Amyot Dr. Julia Alleyne As of October 29, 2015 Vice-President The Winter’s Tale Consulting Chiropractor Chair Karen Kain, C.C. Jacquelin Barrett Dr. Cameron Borody David W. Binet Anne Délica Trévien Consulting Foot Specialist/ John Bailey Treasurer Cacti Chiropodist Susanne Boyce Barry Shour, CPA, CA Nina Botkay* Dr. Nicholas Durand, D.Pod.M. Jane Darville Stephen Delaney Secretary Consulting Opthamologist Marlene DelZotto Pamela Ouzounian Rubies Dr. Michael Easterbrook The Honourable Nicole Eaton, Joysanne Sidimus Senator Director of Development Consulting Dental Surgeon Bronwen Evans Diana Reitberger, CFRE Giselle Dr. Lancelot Brown Sandra Faire Laurent Hilaire Greta Hodgkinson, ex officio David Banks The National Ballet of Canada is grateful Barry Hughson, ex officio David Binet Guest Teachers and Coaches to the Sports Medicine Specialists (150 Karen Kain,C.C., ex officio Ed Esposto Aleksandar Antonijevic Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto); the Krista Kerr Lucille Joseph Mercedes Bernardez University Health Network, Department Judith Lawrie Krista Kerr Herve Courtain of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine; Janet Lewell Jerry Lozinski Felipe Diaz and the Medcan Clinic (150 York Street, Philip Lieberman Sue Matthews Jean-Yves Esquerre Toronto) for their continued support of the Jerry Lozinski Vanessa Morgan Dancer Health and Wellness Programme; Michel Faigaux David Macdonald James Pitblado, C.M. and to those physicians who have Curtis Foley Ryan McNally generously donated their time to The Robert Glumbek Donna Meyers National Ballet of Canada. Artistic Nicholas Khan Linda O’Leary Matjash Mrozewski David Pell, ex officio Artistic Director Tatiana Tchernova Music Nancy Pencer Karen Kain, C.C. Jack Petch, ex officio *Made possible by a generous donation Music Director and Lynda Prince Artistic Administrator from The Frank Gerstein Charitable Principal Conductor Robbie J. Pryde Gerard Roxburgh Foundation David Briskin Jessica Ray Sonia Rodriguez, ex officio Artist-in-Residence Dancer Wellness Principal Pianist Gretchen Ross Rex Harrington, O.C. Programme Janis Neilson Victor R. Royce John B. Simcoe Principal Artistic Coach Director of Dancer Wellness Pianists Mavis Staines, C.M., ex officio Magdalena Popa Marla Pichler Edward Connell Daniel F. Sullivan Andrei Streliaev Noreen Taylor Zhenya Yesmanovich Artistic Director, YOU dance/ Company Sports Medicine Cornell C.V. Wright Principal Ballet Master Physician Lindsay Fischer Dr. Michael Clarfield Orchestra Personnel Manager Honourary Board and Music Administrator Raymond Tizzard As of October 29, 2015 Senior Ballet Master Company Orthopaedic Surgeon Peter Ottmann Dr. Darrell Ogilvie-Harris Avie Bennett, C.C., O.Ont. Librarian Judith Cohen Senior Ballet Mistress Company Physician Lucie Parent Mandy-Jayne Richardson Judi Conacher (Family & Sports Medicine) Missy Crosbie Dr. Julia Hamilton Administration Jeanie Davis Choreographic Associates Robert Binet Sherry Taylor Drew Performance Psychologist Executive Director James Fleck, C.C. Guillaume Côté Dr. Doug Misener Barry Hughson Kevin Garland William Harris Pointe Shoe Manager/ Company Athletic Therapist Director of Finance William Herridge, Q.C. Assistant Ballet Mistress Paul Papoutsakis and Administration Donald K. Johnson, O.C. Lorna Geddes Barry Shour, CPA, CA Paul O’Donoghue Company Physiotherapist Rose Patten Executive Assistant to the Artistic Ginette Hamel Director of Human Resources Aaron Regent Director/Administrative Manager Leigh Ann Layno Jennifer Bennett Darbyshire Robin Robinson Company Massage Therapists Brian Bastedo Director of Technology The National Ballet of Scheduling Coordinator Ron Mulesa Christopher Sonnemann Canada, Endowment Sophie Letendre Foundation Board of Resident Pilates Teacher Payroll and Benefits Manager Company Management Assistant Je-an Salas Jenny Mah Directors Sarita Dotan Urgent Care As of September 22, 2015 Dr. Janice Weiss Manager, Human Resources Guest Répétiteurs Kathleen Matatya No. 24 Chair Naturopathic Doctor David Macdonald Aleksandar Antonijevic Dr. Melissa Piercell

national.ballet.ca 31 Chief of Staff/ Marketing Operations Associate Senior Manager, Corporate Assistant Electricians Executive Assistant to Danielle McCann (Maternity Leave) Partnerships Ron Gorveatt the Executive Director Madeline Wong, CPA, CMA Susan Rutledge Chris Brooks Stephen Word Publicist Manager, Special Events Production Workshop Board Secretary Nick Seliwoniuk Rebecca Hodge Pamela Ouzounian Construction Supervisor Assistant Manager of Audience Manager, Individual Giving Peter Newman General Accountants and Donor Services Deanna Underwood Sandra Gandola, CB Nicole Ascroft Assistant Carpenter Daisy Lee Senior Officer, Special Events Sandy Middleton Demitrios Prevenas Assistant Manager of Telesales and Turnout Li Ye, CPA, CGA (Maternity Leave) Alison Moss Taylor LaFontaine Scenery constructed at the National Shu Zhang, CPA, CGA (Maternity Ballet Workshop by members of I.A.T.S.E. Leave) Web and Digital Media Officer, Major Gifts Local 58. Coordinator Marielle Bryck Senior Solutions Architect Sean Leonard Property Supervisor Mohiuddin Faruqe Officer, Writer John Miracle Communications Coordinator Caroline Dickie Senior Business Analyst Nima Naik Resident Scenic Artist Fernando Margueirat Officer, Research Kelly Palmer Coordinators, Audience and Laurie Nemetz Solutions Developer Donor Services Assistant Scenic Artist Kruti Shah (Maternity Leave) Karen Brown Officer, Individual Giving Mark Reid Anne Meighan Megan Ritch Systems Administrator Properties constructed at the National Andrew Anderson Supervisors, Audience and Donor Officer, Communications Ballet Workshop by members of I.A.T.S.E. Services Tara Robinson Local 828. Systems Coordinator Michael Cursio Kartik Narielwala Heidi Reimer Executive Assistant to the Wardrobe Director of Development Margie Pacini Receptionist Audience and Donor Services Wardrobe Supervisor Seta Nigoghossian Representatives Marjory Fielding Adam Bernhardt Coordinator, Major Gifts Marc Cormier Amy Dutton Communications Wardrobe Coordinator Denis Couillard Barbara de Kat Director of Communications Maya Gunnarsson Coordinator, Administration Chelsea La Vecchia Lucy White Julia Drake Assistant to the Wardrobe Robert LaRonde Supervisor Senior Associate Director, Jacqueline Nguyen Junior Coordinator, Stacy Dimitropoulos Communications Patty Pedersen Special Events Rafael Renderos Melanie Baird Belinda Bale Resident Cutters Hannah Saunders Ruth Bartel Associate Director, Maggie Thistle Development Intern Christopher Read Audience and Donor Services Devin Upham Nadine Haddad Beth Wolfe Veronica McLellan Assistant to Cutters Production Susan Howse Senior Manager, Administrative Assistant, Audience and Donor Services Telesales Production Director Assistant Wardrobe Coordinator Bethany Bleile William Bruce James Thornley Grant Heaps

Senior Manager, Communications Telesales Representatives Associate Director of Production Costume Rental Coordinator Catherine Chang Zoya Boruchov Yvette Drumgold Mary Hurley Stephan Carmichael Taisa Dackiw Senior Manager, Stage Managers Wig and Make-up Supervisor Interactive & Marketing Joyce McKerrow Jeff Morris Charles Seminerio Operations Brian Ravok Liliane Stilwell Asna Wise Stephen Cunningham Footwear Coordinator Rachelle Zilber Assistant Stage Manager Lacey Hammond Harrington Director, In Studio Michael Lewandowski (Maternity Leave) Kate Kernaghan Development Bianca Laudadio Lighting Coordinator Senior Manager of Telesales Director of Development Jeff Logue Footwear Assistant James Pereira Diana Reitberger, CFRE Rose Marie Thomas Master Carpenter Archives Manager Associate Director of John Alexander Stitchers Caitlin Dyer Development, Major Gifts Lisa DiQuinzo (Maternity Leave) Kate Halpenny Head Electrician Jordan Johnstone Manager, Audience and Donor Stephen O’Connor JoAnn Lamberton Services Senior Development Manager, Lily Messerhuber Susan Eissler Communications Property Master Lucie Moreau John Hart Michael Ellenton Lisa Novielli Education and Outreach Manager Victoria Shillington Lisa Robinson Senior Manager, Assistant Carpenter Development Operations Paul McNamara Senior Graphic Designer Leah Heidenheim Joanna Todd (Maternity Leave) Assistant Carpenter/Flyman Senior Manager, Major Gifts Geoff Kay Graphic Designer Joanna Ivey Kyle Greenwood

32 The mosT magical journey of The year ... is down a rabbiT hole. This asTonishing musical experience will sTay wiTh you forever.

World premiere! featuring 19 original songs.

Adapted for the stage by Peter Hinton | Music by Allen Cole | Based on the book by Lewis Carroll

youth tickets only $29

Jackie maxWell artistic director niagara-on-the-lake, on april to october SHAWFEST.COM | 1.800.511.SHAW Photo illustration for Alice in Wonderland by Emily Cooper.

Client: Shaw FeStival Publication: The Nutcracker hP (Nat’l Ballet / Mirvish Media programme) insertion Date: Dec 12 - Jan 3 Size: 6.5 x 9.5 + 0.25 bleed Contact: [email protected] | Key Gordon Communications Nutcracker Activities for the Entire Family

37

NBS-NAT1516-NBoC-Nutcracker.qxp_Layout 1 2015-11-11 2:58 PM Page 1

Making the Arts More Accessible®

PRESENTING SPONSOR

CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL DARE TO DREAM NATIONAL AUDITION TOUR 2015/16

an Ontario government agency #NBSauditions un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario FOR TORONTO & OTHER SOUTHERN ONTARIO DATES & LOCATIONS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.NBS-ENB.CA