The Ballet Bible

National Ballet of Canada

The National Ballet of Canada, a company with more than 60 dancers and its own full symphony orchestra, is Canada’s premiere dance company and ranks as one of the world’s top international dance companies. Founded in 1951 by English dancer Celia Franca, the company was established as a classical company and is still the only Canadian company to present a full range of traditional full-evening ballet classics. However, the company presents not only the classical repertoire but also embraces contemporary works and encourages the creation of new ballets and the development of Canadian choreographers.

The first performance by the company was on November 12, 1951 at the Eaton Auditorium in Toronto. The programme included Les Sylphides and the Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor. Principal dancers with the company were Celia Franca, Irene Apine, Lois Smith, David Adams and Jury Gotshalks.

In 1976, Alexander Grant, a former principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet and Artistic Director of Ballet for All, became the Artistic Director of the company during its 25th Anniversary Season. Under his leadership, the company added many works by Frederick Ashton to the repertoire. Mr. Grant was also instrumental in encouraging talented choreographers from within the company, most notably James Kudelka and Constantin Patsalas, to produce original ballets.

The company began earning its international reputation in 1970 when it was the only classical ballet company to be invited to perform at Expo ’70 in Osaka, Japan. In 1972, the company undertook its first European tour to Britain, France, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland and Germany. Also in 1972, Rudolf Nureyev staged his spectacular production of The Sleeping Beauty on the company. With this ballet, the National Ballet made a triumphant debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House in 1973. The company has returned over the years to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House and also at the State Theatre, Lincoln Centre.

The National Ballet toured throughout Europe during the seventies and in 1979 was the first Canadian company to appear at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London. The company performed in Italy and Mexico in 1980, toured Europe in 1985 visiting ten cities in five countries and in 1989 toured Germany. In 1992, the company performed in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The visit to Japan also included a Gala Performance in Tokyo. The National Ballet returned to Europe in 1993 to perform in Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and for the first time, in Israel.

The legendary Erik Bruhn, considered one of the greatest classical male dancers of this century, took over the position of Artistic Director of the National Ballet in 1983. Bruhn’s 20 year association with the National Ballet and the National Ballet School as choreographer, producer, teacher, coach and dancer made him ideally suited to lead the company. Some of the ballets that Mr. Bruhn added to the company’s repertoire include The Merry Widow, Robert Desrosiers’ Blue Snake and Glen Tetley’s Alice. Onegin was premiered at the 1984 Toronto International Festival of Music and Dance and staged by Reid Anderson.

Following the sudden death of Erik Bruhn, his associates, Valerie Wilder and Lynn Wallis, were named Associate Directors (1986) and then co-Artistic Directors (1987). During their tenure the company celebrated its 35th anniversary with a gala evening featuring special guest artist Rudolf Nureyev. The International Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize, an event conceived by Mr. Bruhn and organized by Ms. Wilder and Ms. Wallis, was premiered by the National Ballet in May 1988. From 1987 to 1989 choreographer Glen Tetley joined the National Ballet as Artistic Associate. Mr. Tetley’s original works for the company include Oracle, Alice, La Ronde, and Tagore.

On July 1 1989, Canadian-born Reid Anderson took over as Artistic Director and Ms. Wilder was appointed Associate Director. During his seven seasons with the company Mr. Anderson acquired many new ballets for the company including John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew, Frederick Ashton’s A Month in the Country and Jiri Kylian’s Soldiers Mass. He commissioned many new works notably William Forsythe’s The Second Detail, John Neumeier’s Now and Then, John Alleyne’s Interrogating Slam and James Kudelka’s The Actress, Spring Awakening and The Nutcracker. In November 1995, Reid Anderson resigned as Artistic Director of the National Ballet. He has since been appointed Artistic Director of the Stuttgart Ballet.

In February 1996, James Kudelka was appointed the company’s new Artistic Director and assumed the position in June 1996. A world-renowned choreographer, Mr. Kudelka has created many original works for the National Ballet including The Nutcracker, Spring Awakening, The Actress, The Miraculous Mandarin, Musings and Pastorale as the company’s Artist in Residence (1992 – 1996). As Artistic Director he created The Four Seasons (1997), Swan Lake (1999) and A Disembodied Voice (1999) and The Firebird (2000), The Contract (The Pied Piper) (2002), Cinderella (2004), commissioned new works by Canadian choreographers John Alleyne, Dominique Dumais and Jean-Pierre Perreault, added works by George Balanchine to the repertoire and staged several works he created for other companies on National Ballet dancers.

In September 1998, Karen Kain, who retired as Principal Dancer in 1997, accepted Mr. Kudelka’s invitation to return to the company as Artist in Residence. In 1999 Ms. Kain became Artistic Associate. In October 1998, the National Ballet made a triumphant return to New York City, after a ten-year absence. The company performed a programme of all Canadian choreography, including works by Mr. Kudelka, Dominique Dumais and John Alleyne, and was unanimously praised by the New York press.

During the summer of 1996 the company moved into its new home, The Walter Carsen Centre for the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. In 2002 Valerie Wilder left the company as Executive Director. Kevin Garland, who had served on the board for 10 years, was appointed the new Executive Director.

In June 2005, Mr. Kudelka stepped down as Artistic Director following a tenure of 9 years, which saw a growth in the company’s repertoire and international acclaim. Mr. Kudelka assumed the role of Resident Choreographer. In July 2005, Karen Kain became the company’s new Artistic Director.

At home in Toronto, the National Ballet performs annual fall, winter and spring seasons plus The Nutcracker at the Hummingbird Centre and each season performs in other Canadian cities including Ottawa and Montreal as well as touring to smaller communities with an alternating roster of dancers.

In the fall of 2006 the Company will move to its new performance venue, the magnificent Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.