2017/18 Join us as a subscriber for the 2017/18 Season and get the best seats at the best price!

Elena Lobsanova

2 17/18 Season A Message from Artistic Director Karen Kain

The National Ballet of Canada’s 2017/18 Emergence will form this sensational trio of season shows the company in all its versatility, ballets, demonstrating, if proof were needed, the dramatic exuberance and artistry. richness, strength and range of choreographic talent at work in the country today. Our Fall Season sees the return of Christopher Wheeldon’s glorious adaptation Also new this year will be the world premiere of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. The ballet of a work about the great Canadian was a stunning success when it premiered, filmmaker Norman McLaren by the legendary with critics and audiences alike praising its theatrical visionary Robert Lepage and gifted emotional depth, brilliant choreography and choreographer Guillaume Côté. With two stagecraft. As well, John Neumeier’s masterful such brilliantly creative forces collaborating, and intensely poetic Nijinsky, likewise this will undoubtedly be the highlight of our an enormously popular and theatrically Summer Season. enthralling work, will revisit our stage, Along with The Sleeping Beauty and our always following our highly-anticipated performances crowd-pleasing version of The Nutcracker, the of the ballet in Paris. return of Alexander Ekman’s wildly provocative I’m thrilled and proud that our Winter Season Cacti, the Canadian premiere of Paz de la Jolla will feature a full evening of three remarkable by American choreographer Justin Peck and works by Canadian choreographers. Robert Dark Angels, a new work by Guillaume Côté, Binet’s The Dreamers Ever Leave You, James this should be a year of truly unforgettable Kudelka’s The Four Seasons and Crystal Pite’s dance. I hope you experience it with us.

Karen Kain national.ballet.ca 3 Hannah Fischer and Piotr Stanczyk

Evan McKie Hannah Fischer and Piotr Stanczyk

4 17/18 Season 17/18 Fall Season

presents

Shakespeare’s fascinating late work The Winter’s Tale has always defied classification. With elements of tragedy, comedy and romance mingling and The Winter’s Tale running up against one another in an often-complicated story of jealousy, November 10 – 19, 2017 love, vindictiveness and redemption, audiences have never been quite sure how to define this moving, mysterious and ultimately tender creation. A “problem” play it may be, but most people are content to simply accept and cherish it for what it is—a great human drama.

Christopher Wheeldon, in his ballet version of the play, shies away from neither the story’s thematic complexities nor the radical and often conflicting shifts in tone that make it the bold and unique work that it is. Working again Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon with designer Bob Crowley and composer Joby Talbot, the same key creative Scenario: Christopher Wheeldon and Joby Talbot Music: Joby Talbot team who gave us the unforgettable Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Mr. Design: Bob Crowley Wheeldon embraces the full range of the play’s emotional life, lavishing some Lighting Design: Natasha Katz of his most inventive and exuberant choreography to date on the rich and Projection Design: Daniel Brodie Silk Effects Design: Basil Twist captivating characters that populate Shakespeare’s beguiling narrative.

Lead philanthropic support for The Winter’s A ballet alert in every scene to the ambiguities and contradictions that both Tale is provided by The Catherine and Maxwell shape and confound our lives, The Winter’s Tale is a profound and searching Meighen Foundation, Richard M. Ivey, C.C., an anonymous friend of the National Ballet and drama of love and redemption and the spring that lies beneath even the The Producers’ Circle. darkest of days.

national.ballet.ca 5 Francesco Gabriele Frola and Svetlana Lunkina

Guillaume Côté Keichii Hirano

6 17/18 Season 17/18 Fall Season

In addition to being one of contemporary choreography’s most important voices, John Neumeier is a world authority on the life and work of Vaslav Nijinsky Nijinsky. Who better, then, to create a work that delves into the mind and A Ballet by John Neumeier spirit of one of ballet’s—and, indeed, modern culture’s—most legendarily complex figures? Renowned for his unforgettable stage presence, his November 22 – 26, 2017 astonishing technique and his groundbreaking approach to choreographic expression, Nijinsky shattered for all time not just the prevailing notions and expectations of the male dancer, but the limitations that convention had imposed on the range of dramatic possibilities in dance itself.

Choreography, Sets*, Costumes* Neumeier’s Nijinsky is partly a biographical narrative, focusing on the key and Lighting Concept: John Neumeier events and relationships of his life, but also a form of memory-ballet, in *based partly on original sketches by Léon Bakst and Alexander Benois which we enter Nijinsky’s own fevered reflections on his art, his identity Music: Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Nikolaj as a man and artist, and the perilous, tumultuous times in which he lived. Rimskij-Korsakov and Dmitri Shostakovich Designing the sets, costumes and lighting as well as choreographing the Lead philanthropic support for Nijinsky is work, Neumeier has shaped an act of personal homage, but also charts provided by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen the delicate line between genius and madness with incredible immersive Foundation, an anonymous friend of the National Ballet, The Volunteer Committee of The National power and empathy. Nijinsky leaves the audience emotionally bruised but Ballet of Canada and The Producers’ Circle. awakened to the sensibility and vision of an extraordinary artist.

national.ballet.ca 7 Emma Hawes

Tina Pereira and Harrison James Harrison James with Students of Canada’s National Ballet School

8 17/18 Season 17/18 Holiday Season

presents

Created in 1995 by the National Ballet’s former Artistic Director James Kudelka, this stunningly designed and richly choreographed version of the perennial The Nutcracker Christmas classic is a holiday gem, traditional and touchingly affectionate, yet December 9 – 30, 2017 imbued with the vigour, wit and briskness of a contemporary sensibility. The dreams and imaginative powers of childhood, the lure of fantasy and the sheer appeal of spectacle all form part of Kudelka’s vision, which comprises virtuosic dance, inspired comedy and the unbridled visual extravagance that one has come to expect from The Nutcracker.

Kudelka has altered the narrative subtly, too, creating beneath the dazzling stagecraft an archetypal story of childhood growth and maturation. Focusing on the quarreling siblings Misha and Marie, the ballet follows the pair as they move through new phases of understanding and experience, preparing them for their entry into the world of adolescence.

The brilliantly detailed and sparkling sets by Santo Loquasto evoke an enchanted, rustic world of the Russian past, one replete with folk customs and Choreography and Libretto: The Nutcracker is made possible by generous rituals that magically evolve into the ice-encrusted world of the Snow Queen James Kudelka, O.C. financial support from production underwriters and the splendor of the golden palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Underscored Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence Set and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto & Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the by Tchaikovsky’s beloved and inimitable music, the entire production is like Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton National Ballet. uncovering a familiar treasure and seeing it anew.

national.ballet.ca 9 Jillian Vanstone and Artists of the Ballet in The Four Seasons

Rui Huang and Spencer Hack in The Dreamers Ever Leave You Artists of the Ballet in Emergence

10 17/18 Season 17/18 Winter Season

presents

The Winter Season opens with a trio of ballets by some of the finest Canadian choreographers at work today. The Dreamers Ever Leave You is Made in Canada Robert Binet’s captivating response to the paintings of legendary Group February 28 – March 4, 2018 of Seven artist Lawren Harris. Harris’ work is famous not just for distilling the austere beauty of Canada’s northern landscapes, but for conveying the deep, almost mystical power that those landscapes hold. In his ballet, Binet seeks to replicate that same spiritual energy through the controlled

The Dreamers Ever Leave You Emergence physicality of the human body. Concept and Choreography: Robert Binet Choreography: Crystal Pite Pianist and Composer: Lubomyr Melnyk Original Score: Owen Belton James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons is one of the most fervently admired Lighting Design: Simon Rossiter Set Design: Jay Gower Taylor and broadly embraced masterpieces in the National Ballet’s contemporary Costume Design: Robyn Clarke Costume Design: Linda Chow repertoire. Set to Vivaldi’s famous sequence of violin concerti, the work Lighting Design: Alan Brodie Originally co-produced by The National Ballet traverses the full range of experience in a man’s life, from the freshness of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Emergence is generously supported by and innocence of Spring, to the exuberance of Summer, to the reflective Gail Hutchison. Lead philanthropic support for The Dreamers Ever melancholy of Autumn, to Winter’s stark intimations of mortality. The Leave You is provided by The Producer’s Circle. Four Seasons is a work of stunning emotional breadth and breathtaking

The Four Seasons choreographic invention. Choreography: James Kudelka, O.C. Music: Antonio Vivaldi Crystal Pite’s Emergence was the sensation of the season when it premiered Costume Design: TRAC COSTUME: Carmen Alie with the National Ballet in 2009. Subsequent stagings have shown it has lost and Denis Lavoie none of its power to provoke, startle and intrigue. The work posits the instinct Lighting Design: David Finn Projections and Scenic Effects: Chris Wise for social organization found in the insect realm as a precise metaphor for human interaction and purpose, with swarms and waves of dancers recreating The Four Seasons is a gift from The Volunteer Committee, in a dimly-lit, subterranean hive the intricate forms and patterns of life that seem The National Ballet of Canada. to unite both the natural and human-made worlds.

national.ballet.ca 11 Naoya Ebe and Elena Lobsanova

Artists of the Ballet Jillian Vanstone and Artists of the Ballet

12 17/18 Season 17/18 Winter Season

Of all the full-length works in the repertoire, perhaps none embodies the unabashed exuberance, grace and technical virtuosity of classical ballet as The Sleeping does The Sleeping Beauty. Since its premiere in St. Petersburg in 1890, with a score by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa, the ballet has Beauty remained virtually the definitive expression of the western classical aesthetic in dance, casting a spell over generations of audiences, dancers and March 8 – 18, 2018 choreographers, all of whom have responded to its irresistible blend of strong narrative appeal and showstopping spectacle.

While many choreographers have adapted the ballet to their own purposes and visions over the decades, the version created by Rudolf Nureyev in 1966 stands out as being one of the most technically exciting and richly entertaining. Set on The National Ballet of Canada in 1972, it helped put the then still young company on the international ballet map, changing the fortunes and face of the company forever. Produced, staged and with additional The Sleeping Beauty is made possible by choreography: Rudolf Nureyev after generous contributions from Margaret Fleck & Since then, the ballet, with its natural ebullience and dramatic flair, its Marius Petipa Jim Fleck, C.C., The Catherine and Maxwell combination of consummate artistry and sheer showmanship, has always been Staged by: Karen Kain, C.C. Meighen Foundation, Sandra Pitblado & Jim an audience favourite. Restaged by Artistic Director Karen Kain in 2006, The Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pitblado, C.M., Gretchen Ross and Nancy Set and Costume Design: Nicholas Georgiadis Pencer & Michael Benjamin. Sleeping Beauty is one of the National Ballet’s most treasured works and holds Lighting Design: David Hersey a singular place in the company’s history and the affections of its audience.

national.ballet.ca 13 Frame by Frame A ballet based on the work of Norman McLaren By Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté

14 17/18 Season 17/18 Summer Season

World Premiere!

presents Frame by Frame A ballet based on the work of Norman McLaren By Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté

The legendary Canadian filmmaker and animator Norman McLaren set June 1 – 10, 2018 new standards for his art form throughout his long and illustrious career. Best-known for his ACADEMY AWARD® winning filmNeighbours (1952), McLaren’s experiments in various forms of animation and his innovative use of sound, music and drawn-on-film techniques saw him create works of unparalleled richness, visual brilliance and beauty, influencing subsequent Frame by Frame is a collaboration between Gattuso and Allan Slaight, The William & Nona generations of filmmakers the world over. The National Ballet of Canada, Ex Machina and Heaslip Foundation, Rosamond Ivey, Hal Jackman The National Film Board of Canada. Foundation, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Now, the renowned playwright, director, actor and filmmaker Robert Lepage Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Judith Lead philanthropic support for Frame by Frame comes to The National Ballet of Canada for the first time to collaborate with & Robert Lawrie, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Joan is provided by The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark & Jerry Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie the company’s Choreographic Associate Guillaume Côté in a multidisciplinary Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & production that explores Norman McLaren’s life and work. Incorporating Marshal Stearns, David Binet, Gail Drummond Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lynda & Jonas Prince, Susan & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton and interweaving several different media, the ballet is both an evocation Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M., Q.C., Gerald Sheff Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & & Shanitha Kachan, Sandra Simpson and Noreen of and inquiry into the world and imagination of one of Canada’s most Ivan Fecan, Kevin & Roger Garland, Emmanuelle Taylor, C.M. & David Staines, C.M., O.Ont. uncategorizable and accomplished, yet elusive, artists.

Photographer: Gar Lunney © 1951 National Film Board of Canada national.ballet.ca 15 Artists of the Ballet in Cacti.

16 17/18 Season 17/18 Summer Season

Company Premieres!

Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman has earned a well-deserved Paz de la Jolla & international reputation for creating genre-breaking, unsettling ballets that question both the nature of dance and the meaning of performance. Dark Angels with Cacti Cacti, which premiered with the National Ballet in 2016, is quintessential Ekman, a quick-paced, wickedly ironic and multiform work that satirizes the June 16 – 22, 2018 ponderousness and silliness of some contemporary dance and the often fatuous critical response to it.

In his 2013 work Paz de la Jolla, New York City Ballet dancer and Resident Paz de la Jolla Cacti Choreographer Justin Peck has created a heartfelt and sun-washed homage Choreographer: Justin Peck Choreography: Alexander Ekman to his southern California upbringing. Set to Martinů’s Sinfonietta la Jolla, the Staged by: Christian Tworzyanski Music: Joseph Haydn, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Music: Bohuslav Martinů Franz Schubert, Andy Stein & Gustav Mahler ballet is a gorgeously conceived, sweet-natured billet-doux to beach life and Costume Design: Reid Bartelme and Set Design: Alexandar Ekman and young love, the choreography both brisk and languid, salty and sensual, rich Harriet Jung Thomas Visser in emotional undercurrents and evocative of the pleasures and fears of youth Lighting Design: Mark Stanley Costume Design: Alexander Ekman Lighting Design: Thomas Visser and coming of age. Lead philanthropic support for Paz de la Jolla is Text: Spenser Theberge provided by The Producers’ Circle. As a Choreographic Associate with the National Ballet, Principal Dancer Cacti is a co-production between The National Dark Angels Guillaume Côté has very quickly shaped a body of work notable for both Ballet of Canada, Boston Ballet and Atlanta Choreography: Guillaume Côté Ballet. its artistic ambition and its thematic intricacy. In Dark Angels, Mr. Côté has Music: Kevin Lau teamed up again with composer Kevin Lau (who composed the score for Mr. Set Design: Yannick Larivée Lead philanthropic support for Cacti is made Costume Design: Christopher Read possible by an anonymous friend of the National Côté’s captivating Le Petit Prince) to create a work for Canada’s National Arts Lighting Design: Jock Munro Ballet and The Producers’ Circle. Centre, in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

national.ballet.ca 17 Subscribers get the Best Seats at the Best Price! Choose from Packages of 6, 4 or 3 Ballets Save up to 50%

The Full Series 1 „„ Premium subscription of six ballets „„ Same seats every show „„ Free exchanges The Sampler 2 „„ Set packages of three or four ballets „„ Curated just for you „„ Four options to choose from Create Your Own 3 „„ Ultimate flexibility „„ Select any four shows

„„ Includes The Nutcracker Sonia Rodriguez

18 17/18 Season Order now – some packages and sections are sold out. Check national.ballet.ca/subscriptions or call 416 (1 866) 345 9595 for up-to-date information.

Ring 4 E E D D C C Premium B B A A Experience Ring 3 E E D D Price Zone A C C B B Price Zone B A A Grand Ring Excellent Seats P O Box N M L Q K R J Great Savings S H SECTION T G U Orchestra F Price Zone C V EE EE E W DD DD C X CC CC Price Zone D BB BB B AA AA

X X W W V V Great Value U U T T S S High Demand R R Q Q Book Early P P O O N N M M Price Zone E L L K K J J Price Zone F H H G G F F Price Zone G E E D D Stage All performances take place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts located at 145 Queen Street West (at University Avenue).

Please refer to the following pages for subscription options and prices.

national.ballet.ca 19 The Full Series Premium Subscription The Ballet Lover’s Package

„„ Priority seating „„ Best seats at the best price „„ Enjoy the beauty of ballet all season long „„ Same seats for all six ballets „„ Seniors, children and students save 45% on Saturday Matinees „„ Free and convenient ticket exchanges „„ Save 50% on additional tickets with Subscriber Rush the day before the performance „„ Advance purchase of The Nutcracker before public on sale „„ Exclusive offers from local restaurants and businesses with your subscriber discount card Svetlana Lunkina

20 17/18 Season 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm Performance Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Saturday Sunday Evening Evening Evening Afternoon Evening Afternoon The Winter’s Tale Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 10 Nov 18 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nijinsky Nov 22 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 25 Nov 26 Made in Canada Feb 28 Mar 01 Mar 02 Mar 03 Mar 03 Mar 04 The Sleeping Beauty Mar 14 Mar 08 Mar 09 Mar 10 Mar 10 Mar 11 Frame by Frame Jun 06 Jun 07 Jun 01 Jun 02 Jun 02 Jun 03 Cacti Jun 20 Jun 21 Jun 22 Jun 16 Jun 16 Jun 17

Premium Senior/ Premium Senior/ Section Premium Adult You Save You Save Student/Child You Save Student/Child Sat Mat - 45% off

Price Zone A $1434 $156 $1434 $156 $882 $708

Price Zone B $1140 $120 $1140 $120 $696 $564

Price Zone C $894 $216 $834 $276 $618 $492

Price Zone D $774 $186 $726 $234 $531 $429

Price Zone E $666 $114 $630 $150 $435 $345

Price Zone F $510 $84 $480 $114 $327 $267

Price Zone G $336 $54 $318 $72 $225 $165

All Subscription Prices include HST. No additional charges will be added. Savings are calculated from the regular single ticket price. national.ballet.ca 21 The Sampler Packages of 3 or 4 Ballets Curated Just for You

„„ Choose from four different options „„ Specially selected packages to suit every taste and budget „„ Priority seating before single ticket buyers „„ Convenient ticket exchanges for a nominal charge „„ Advance purchase of The Nutcracker before public on sale „„ Exclusive offers from local restaurants and businesses with your subscriber discount card Naoya Ebe

22 17/18 Season The Weekend 4 The Weekend 3 Saturday Evenings or Sunday Afternoons Saturday Evenings or Sunday Afternoons Four Ballets Three Ballets

Saturday Evening Sunday Afternoon Saturday Evening Sunday Afternoon Performance Performance 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm The Winter’s Tale Nov 18 Nov 19 The Winter’s Tale Nov 18 Nov 19 Nijinsky Nov 25 Nov 26 The Sleeping Beauty Mar 17 Mar 18 The Sleeping Beauty Mar 17 Mar 18 Frame by Frame Jun 09 Jun 10 Frame by Frame Jun 09 Jun 10

Section You Save Section You Save

Price Zone A $956 $104 Price Zone A $717 $78

Price Zone B $759 $81 Price Zone B $570 $60

Price Zone C $596 $144 Price Zone C $447 $108

Price Zone D $516 $124 Price Zone D $387 $93

Price Zone E $444 $76 Price Zone E $333 $57

Price Zone F $339 $57 Price Zone F $255 $42

Price Zone G $238 $22 Price Zone G $177 $18

All Subscription Prices include HST. No additional charges will be added. Savings are calculated from the regular single ticket price. national.ballet.ca 23 Thursday Afternoon Subscription „„ Four Thursday afternoons „„ All seats 50% off „„ Same seats for every performance

Thursday Afternoons Performance 2:00pm The Winter’s Tale Nov 16 Nijinsky Nov 23 Made in Canada Mar 01 Frame by Frame Jun 07

Section You Save

Price Zone A $530 $530

Price Zone B $420 $420

Price Zone C $370 $370

Price Zone D $320 $320

Price Zone E $260 $260

Price Zone F $198* $198*

Price Zone G $130* $130*

* Available only for renewing subscribers until May 1 Xiao Nan Yu

24 17/18 Season Family Time „„ Three Sunday afternoons „„ Perfect for the whole family „„ Children 15 and under save an extra 20%

Performance Sunday Afternoons The Nutcracker Dec 10 at 1:00 pm The Sleeping Beauty Mar 18 at 2:00 pm Cacti Jun 17 at 2:00 pm

Family Time Family Time Section You Save You Save Adult Child

Price Zone A $588 $102 $453 $237

Price Zone B $474 $81 $363 $192

Price Zone C $423 $72 $324 $171

Price Zone D $369 $61 $282 $148

Price Zone E $300 $50 $231 $119

Price Zone F $240 $38 $183 $95

Price Zone G $165 $25 $126 $64

All Subscription Prices include HST and Service Charges. No additional charges will be added. Savings are calculated from the regular single ticket price Greta Hodgkinson national.ballet.ca 25 Create Your Own Subscription „„ Mix and match ballets to suit your taste „„ Select any performance including The Nutcracker* „„ Priority seating before single ticket buyers „„ Convenient ticket exchanges (nominal charge applies) „„ Exclusive offers from local businesses and restaurants with your subscriber discount card

*Excluding the Gala on June 13 Flex 4 Ultimate flexibility Choose any four performances

Section You Save

Price Zone A $956 $104

Price Zone B $759 $81

Price Zone C $636 $104

Price Zone D $548 $92

Price Zone E $444 $76

Price Zone F $339 $57

Price Zone G $240 $20

Select your ballets from the performance calendar on page 28.

All Subscription Prices include HST. No additional charges will be added. Savings are Evan McKie calculated from the regular single ticket price.

26 17/18 Season How to order

Online national.ballet.ca

By Phone 416 345 9595 1 866 345 9595

In Person Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts 145 Queen Street West (at University Avenue)

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

A child is considered 15 and under and must be accompanied by a paid adult subscriber. Please note that ballet performances are not suitable for most children under five. Babes in arms will not be admitted. Student subscribers must present valid identification and seniors must be 65 or older and provide identification for proof of age.

The National Ballet of Canada respects your privacy. We protect your personal information and adhere to all legislative requirements. To view the National Ballet’s privacy policy visit national.ballet.ca.

Heather Ogden national.ballet.ca 27 Fall Season November 2017

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 6 7 8 9 10 The Winter’s Tale 11 The Winter’s Tale 12 The Winter’s Tale

7:30 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm

13 14 15 The Winter’s Tale 16 The Winter’s Tale 17 The Winter’s Tale 18 The Winter’s Tale 19 The Winter’s Tale

7:30 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

20 21 22 Nijinsky 23 Nijinsky 24 Nijinsky 25 Nijinsky 26 Nijinsky

7:30 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

Holiday Season December 2017 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 4 5 6 7 8 9 The Nutcracker 10 The Nutcracker

2:00 pm 1:00 pm 7:00 pm 5:30 pm

11 12 13 The Nutcracker 14 The Nutcracker 15 The Nutcracker 16 The Nutcracker 17 The Nutcracker

7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 2:00 pm 1:00 pm 7:00 pm 5:30 pm

18 19 The Nutcracker 20 The Nutcracker 21 The Nutcracker 22 The Nutcracker 23 The Nutcracker 24 The Nutcracker

7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 2:00 pm 1:00 pm 7:00 pm

25 26 27 The Nutcracker 28 The Nutcracker 29 The Nutcracker 30 The Nutcracker 31

1:00 pm 7:00 pm 1:00 pm 2:00 pm 5:30 pm 5:30 pm 7:00 pm

28 17/18 Season Winter Season February/March 2018

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 26 27 28 Made in Canada 1 Made in Canada 2 Made in Canada 3 Made in Canada 4 Made in Canada

7:30 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

5 6 7 8 The Sleeping 9 The Sleeping 10 The Sleeping 11 The Sleeping Beauty Beauty Beauty Beauty

7:30 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm

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

7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm Summer Season June 2018

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 28 29 30 31 1 Frame by Frame 2 Frame by Frame 3 Frame by Frame

7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm

4 5 6 Frame by Frame 7 Frame by Frame 8 Frame by Frame 9 Frame by Frame 10 Frame by Frame

7:30 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

11 12 13 Gala 14 15 16 Cacti 17 Cacti

2:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:30 pm

18 19 20 Cacti 21 Cacti 22 Cacti 23 24

7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

national.ballet.ca 29 Harrison James and Elena Lobsanova in The Dreamers Ever Leave You

30 17/18 Season The National Ballet of Canada was founded in 1951, an intrepid little company with an ambitious vision. Today, the Canada 150 National Ballet ranks among the top international companies, recognized for its quality, commitment and innovation. Support Great For over 65 years, the artists of the National Ballet have inspired generations of Canadians with the power of dance, Dance in Canada and contributed to Canada’s dynamic cultural identity. Now, as Canada enters its 150th year, we invite audience members like you to help us ensure that the National Ballet remains a leading proponent of excellence and creativity, and an exemplar of Canadian culture at home and abroad. Celebrate Canada’s Sesquicentennial For more information about giving, please visit national.ballet.ca/donate with a special gift. The National Ballet of Canada is a registered charity. Charitable Business Number: 11905 1449 RR0001. $150 for Canada 150

national.ballet.ca 31 The National Ballet

of Canada Heather Ogden Tours to Paris The National Ballet of Canada tours to Paris, France this season. The company will perform John Neumeier’s Nijinsky at the prestigious Théâtre des Champs-Élysées October 3 – 8, 2017.

The National Ballet has not performed in the City of Lights since 1972 and this engagement is another example of Artistic Director Karen Kain’s commitment to showcasing the company on the international stage. Under her leadership the company has toured to London, England, New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles to critical and audience acclaim.

Follow the tour on Facebook and Instagram!

With the generous support of The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C. Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Dylan Tedaldi and Gretchen Ross & Donald Ross, O.C.

32 17/18 Season 255 982 10 YOU dance YOU dance Workshops for Sharing the World of Performances for Residencies 29,997 26,173 59,669 students Dance with Over attendees students 140,000 Students Total number of RBC Apprentices who 75 performed with YOU dance The National Ballet of Canada’s outreach programme YOU dance introduces students in grades four to six to the world of dance through free workshops Livestream viewers and performances. This highly successful programme has reached more than 24,441 140,000 students since it launched in 2007. Total number of participants Students enjoy in-school workshops led by an Artist Educator and a live 140,280 performance by Apprentices from The National Ballet of Canada. The diverse repertoire introduces the children to a variety of dance styles, with engaging narration by the National Ballet’s Education Manager and lots of opportunities to ask the dancers questions!

YOU dance has livestreamed performances to classrooms across Canada for the past three years and over 24,000 students have watched livestreams from coast to coast to coast. The programme has had two residencies in Regent Park in April 2016 and January 2017. The week-long residency includes workshops at Nelson Mandela Park Public School and Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public schools as well as five performances at Daniels Spectrum. Over 1,100 students participated in 2016.

In addition to bringing the world of dance to young people, YOU dance gives the Apprentices of The National Ballet of Canada valuable performance training. The National currently employs 28 dancers who began their careers as RBC Apprentices performing with YOU dance, now representing 43% of the company.

Clare Peterson at a Regent Park YOU dance performance. national.ballet.ca 33 Jaclyn Oakley Emma Hawes Christopher Gerty

Explore. Connect. Engage. national.ballet.ca Connect with us online and we’ll take you behind Sign up for Ballet News the scenes. Be the first to hear news, watch video Follow us on social media and learn more about our talented dancers and celebrated productions.

34 17/18 Season Thank You!

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the generous contribution of our partners who support Canadian culture and continued excellence in dance.

BMO Financial Group presents TD Bank Group presents RBC Apprentice Programme MAD HOT BALLET Thomson Reuters presents Frame by Frame The Nutcracker and Gala Lead Sponsor Made in Canada Nutcracker Story Time

presents Dance About Title Sponsor Series Sponsor Dancers First Award Sponsor Presenting Sponsor The Winter’s Tale Share the Magic Programme

Official Suppliers

Official Event Supplier Official Dry Cleaner Official Media Partner Official Hospitality Partner Official Health and Wellness Provider

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

The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet We acknowledge the financial support of the We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for The Government of Ontario of Canada Government of Canada through the Department of the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring through the Honourable Canadian Heritage via the Endowment Incentives the arts to Canadians throughout the country. Michael Coteau, Minister of component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund. Tourism, Culture and Sport. Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.

Photos by Aleksandar Antonijevic, Karolina Kuras, Daniel Neuhaus, Cylla von Tiedemann and Bruce Zinger. Front Cover: Guillaume Côté in Nijinsky. Back Cover: Jurgita Dronina.

national.ballet.ca 35 2017/18 Season

Fall Season The Winter’s Tale

Nijinsky

Holiday Season The Nutcracker

Winter Season Made in Canada The Dreamers Ever Leave You & The Four Seasons & Emergence

The Sleeping Beauty

Summer Season World Premiere Frame by Frame

Company Premieres Paz de la Jolla & Dark Angels with Cacti

Mailing Address Audience and Donor Services 416 345 9595 The Walter Carsen Centre 1 866 345 9595 for The National Ballet of Canada national.ballet.ca 470 Queens Quay West Toronto, Ontario Canada M5V 3K4