Guillaume Côté bids “adieu” to The National Ballet of Canada after 26 years. To celebrate his legacy as a preeminent dancer and one of the first Choreographic Associates in the company’s history, he will create a new work, Into the fade, and will restage his thrilling Boléro. The programme also features world premieres from two bold and exciting Canadian choreographic talents: Ethan Colangelo and Jennifer Archibald.
Into the fade
World Premiere Co-Created by Guillaume Côté and Ben Shirinian
Overview
In the dim glow of the stage, Principal Dancer and Choreographic Associate Guillaume Côté finds himself in a mesmerizing and sinister pas de deux with his once shadow, now a tangible dark entity. As they weave through a haunting dance, this mysterious figure slowly consumes Côté’s essence, leaving behind only the echo of a dance that once defined his existence. Witness Guillaume Côté’s extraordinary artistry with a solo he is creating specifically for his farewell – a meditation about standing on the Four Seasons Centre stage for the last time that will reflect both the exhilaration of this last moment and the sadness of saying goodbye.
Fast Facts
- Into the fade includes a film element by Ben Shirinian, whose many collaborations with Côté include the viral dance shorts Lost in Motion and Lost in Motion II.
- Côté feels content as he approaches his farewell, saying “I carry with me the most beautiful memories of people, places and moments that have shaped who I am.”
- Into the fade is also an expression of Côté’s gratitude. He says: “Not everyone can say they were able to live their dreams to their fullest, but I can. I have no words to describe my gratitude toward the National Ballet and its devoted audiences for enabling me to live out my lifelong passion.”
Watch and Explore
Key Moments From Guillaume’s Career
Reviews
"One of the finest male dancers in the world" – The London Times
Bolero
Overview
A small ensemble of men and a leading woman defines Guillaume Côté’s fabulous Boléro, which he created for the National Ballet’s 60th-Anniversary Diamond Gala in 2012. The piece builds with Maurice Ravel’s famous music from an initial single theme to many elements working together in harmony. The principal woman offers a human touchpoint for this structure and moves from a state of vulnerability to intensifying strength, going from intimate solos to breathtaking multiple lifts.
Fast Facts
- Ravel composed Boléro in 1928 for his friend, the Russian dancer Ida Rubinstein, who set the music to choreography by the famous Bronislava Nijinska.
- Côté introduces a new choreographic sequence with each of Ravel’s 18 variations on a theme, giving rise to an irresistible study of repetition.
- A water-filled pool in Nathan Phillips Square was the setting for an unforgettable outdoor performance of Bolero in 2015 for 10,000 people at the Pan American Games.
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The Score
Boléro is Maurice Ravel’s most famous work. Composed in 1928, it starts quietly with a snare drum introducing the single theme of the piece until gradually every member of the large orchestra joins in turn. The momentum builds over 18 variations on the theme until finally the full orchestra lets loose in a cacophony of sound.
World Premiere by Ethan Colangelo
Overview
The fresh contemporary language of Canada’s Ethan Colangelo debuts on the mainstage with this exciting world premiere. Colangelo is a rising star on the international dance scene and in 2023, Artistic Director Hope Muir appointed him Choreographic Associate for The National Ballet of Canada. Colangelo’s fearless aesthetic, which he builds from a classical foundation, defines his previous works for the company, as seen before and fractured, and has sealed his reputation as an emerging leader in contemporary movement.
Fast Facts
- Colangelo’s relationship with the National Ballet began onstage, when he performed the lead boy role of Misha in James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker as a child.
- Colangelo won the Audience Choice Award and the DAF Production Award at the Copenhagen International Choreography Competition in 2021, where he also caught the attention of Artistic Director Hope Muir.
- Athletic twists and speed are hallmarks of Colangelo’s style and reflect his background as a competitive freestyle snowboarder.
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The Creator
Born and raised in Toronto, Ethan Colangelo trained at Canada’s National Ballet School and the Julliard School, where he received the Hector Zaraspe Prize for Choreographic Promise. He has presented his work at prestigious venues such as the Baryshnikov Arts Center, Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and the Brooklyn Academic of Music.
Reviews
“Choreographer Ethan Colangelo is making waves in dance” – The Globe and Mail
World Premiere by Jennifer Archibald
Overview
Hip Hop meets contemporary movement and ballet in this long-awaited first partnership with Toronto-born Jennifer Archibald, whose genre-breaking style has taken her from commercial partnerships to film and top dance companies throughout the US and internationally. An expert in the Meisner Technique of acting, Archibald takes a fresh, dynamic approach to movement creation and challenges our expectations about what ballet can be. Experience the fearless language that has made Archibald a favourite on the contemporary dance scene.
Fast Facts
- “Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Sanford Meisner’s famous motto is the foundation for the Meisner Technique, which favours impulse over intellect.
- Archibald’s impressive resume includes work as a movement specialist for actors such as Audrey Tautou, star of Amélie and The Da Vinci Code.
- In 2023, Archibald created her acclaimed Sounds of the Sun for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, exploring the life of Jewish dancer Florence Waren during World War II.
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The Creator
Jennifer Archibald trained at The Ailey School and the Maggie Flanigan Studio. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Arch Dance Company and she also creates new work for stage and screen internationally. Archibald is Acting Lecturer at the Yale School of Drama, Guest Faculty Lecturer at Columbia/Barnard College and Resident Choreographer at Cincinnati Ballet.
Reviews
“Archibald’s courage in exploring difficult conversations and painful historical moments is made visible through these dancers’ investment and sincerity.” – Veer Mag
“Archibald has distinguished herself as a courageous choreographer who can uncover difficult histories and make strides towards greater understanding and connections among people.” – Dance Magazine
Casting
Casting will be announced on our eNewsletter, Ballet News, and on social media and will be posted here approximately two weeks prior to the opening. Please note, casting is always subject to change.
Credits
Bolèro
Choreography:
Guillaume Côté
Music:
Maurice Ravel
Costume Design:
Yannik Larivée
Lighting Design:
Jeff Logue
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, June 20, 2012
Into the fade
Co-Created by Guillaume Côté and Ben Shirinian
Choreography:
Guillaume Côté
Film Director:
Ben Shirinian
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, May 29, 2025
New Work by Ethan Colangelo
Choreography:
Ethan Colangelo
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, May 29, 2025
New Work by Jennifer Archibald
Choreography:
Jennifer Archibald
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, May 29, 2025
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Ballet Talks
The National Ballet invites you to attend the Ballet Talk 45 minutes before every performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.