"MADDADDAM"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
June 18, 2026 (evening)
The return of Wayne McGregor’s “MADDADDAM” 4 years after its world premiere was a welcome one. The complex work based on Margaret Atwood’s dystopian trilogy (“Oryx and Crake”, “The Year of the Flood” and “MaddAddam”) has many layers and rewards repeat viewings. There were not a lot of debuts during this run. Rather, dancers who created roles in 2022
National Ballet of Canada
"Kismet", "Emma Bovary"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
May 29, 2026
The National Ballet of Canada’s summer season opened with the world premiere of Jera Wolfe’s “Kismet”, his first mainstage work for the company, and the return Helen Pickett’s 2023 psychological drama “Emma Bovary”. Both works examine the concepts of choice, destiny and free will in fresh and nuanced ways.
Wolfe, a Toronto native of Métis heritage,
“Pinocchio”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
Mar. 13, 2026
Ballet (and opera) have been thrust into the public discourse after a certain celebrity recently made comments that these art forms are dying and “no one cares” about them. It was perfect timing for the National Ballet of Canada to promote their revival of Will Tuckett’s 2017 full length “Pinocchio”. Unlike more traditional or classical ballets, “Pinocchio” is punchy, high tech
National Ballet of Canada
"Suite en Blanc", "Flight Pattern"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
February 27, 2026
The National Ballet of Canada opened their winter season with a mixed program of two works that could not be more different: Serge Lifar’s potpourri of classical bravura dancing “Suite en Blanc” and Crystal Pite’s somber commentary on the global refugee crisis “Flight Pattern.” Both works feature a large ensemble of 36 company dancers. The former
National Ballet of Canada
"The Winter's Tale"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 14, 2025
The National Ballet of Canada’s 2025-2026 season skews heavily towards newer works with a contemporary style, featuring ballets by Crystal Pite, Will Tuckett, Jera Wolfe, Helen Pickett, Wayne McGregor, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber. The revival of Christopher Wheeldon’s “The Winter’s Tale” is the most traditional story ballet of the whole season, which is
National Ballet of Canada
“Procession”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 1, 2025
How satisfying it is when something lives up to the hype. Choreographic duo Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber have generated a lot of buzz in recent years, creating works for preeminent dance companies across North America and Europe while also crossing over into work in film and theatre. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to the world premiere of
“Anna Karenina”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
June 13, 2025
When “Anna Karenina” appeared on the National Ballet of Canada’s season schedule, it was a surprise that it was not the John Neumeier version that the company co-produced in 2018 alongside the Bolshoi Ballet and Hamburg Ballet. Instead, the NBoC announced that it would present the North American premiere of Christian Spuck’s 2014 version, originally created for Ballet
Adieu: A Celebration of Guillaume Côté
“Bolero”, “Reverence”, “King’s Fall”, “Grand Mirage”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
May 30, 2025
Guillaume Côté has been a household name in Canadian ballet almost since the start of his career at The National Ballet of Canada 26 years ago. Chosen for prime principal roles early on, his range and depth as a dancer lived up to and surpassed the promise of those early
“Swan Lake”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
March 8, 2025
“Swan Lake” is a measuring stick for any classical company, yet it is surprisingly difficult to find a definitive production without significant flaws. In the years since its 1877 Moscow premiere, different choreographers have changed the setting, cut and added variations and condensed it. It has been done with an all male cast, with and without a jester, with different guises
“The Four Seasons”, “Morpheus’ Dream”, “The Leaves are Fading”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
Feb. 26, 2025
The National Ballet of Canada’s diverse winter triple bill featured works from two British and one German choreographer that showcased a range of styles and movement vocabularies. The feature of the night was David Dawson’s colorful and modern “The Four Seasons”. Following opening night, the company announced that he will be appointed
“Giselle”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
Nov. 20, 2024
The story of “Giselle” hasn’t changed since its premiere in 1841. Today, “Giselle” is all about the performances. There is a reason this romantic era ballet has endured as long as it has. No other work so perfectly embodies romantic values – idealism, emotion, the supernatural and the irrational. The National Ballet of Canada has been performing Sir Peter Wright’s version
"Body of Work", "Rhapsody", "Silent Screen"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 9, 2024
The National Ballet of Canada returned home looking energized after touring in London and Paris last month. They opened their Toronto season with a mixed program designed to attract classical and contemporary ballet fans alike. No classicist could resist Sir Frederick Ashton’s “Rhapsody”, a dazzling exemplar of bravura technique. Created for the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov, it