Volunteer Committee Photo Credits

Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar Antonijevic in La Fille mal gardee. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Volunteer Committee

Overview

Volunteers see the dollars they raise come alive on stage.

The support of volunteers is invaluable to The National Ballet of Canada. Dedicated volunteers helped found the company 60 years ago and have given much of their time, resources and energy towards the vision of the National Ballet in the many years since.

The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada has funded 47 new productions for the company since 1976. Through this dedication, the Volunteer Committee has been instrumental in expanding the signature repertoire of the National Ballet.

The Volunteer Committee supports the National Ballet primarily through its Build-A-BalletTM Fund. The Volunteer Committee operates Paper Things, a stationery and gift store at 99 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, as well as the Ballet Boutique during National Ballet performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. (click here for more information).

Join this wonderful group of dedicated women and men and share the pride and accomplishment of funding new repertoire. Visit balletvolunteers.ca 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with and for The National Ballet of Canada. The Volunteer Committee is the proud sponsor of the National Ballet of Canada’s 60th anniversary season.

The Volunteer Committee's New Productions

  • Karen Kain and Frank Augustyn in La fille mal gardée, the inaugural gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1976/77. Photo by Barry Gray.
    Karen Kain and Frank Augustyn in La fille mal gardée, the inaugural gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1976/77. Photo by Barry Gray.

    Karen Kain and Frank Augustyn in La fille mal gardée, the inaugural gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1976/77. Photo by Barry Gray.

  • Martine Lamy in Etudes, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1980. Photo by Barry Gray.
    Martine Lamy in Etudes, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1980. Photo by Barry Gray.

    Martine Lamy in Etudes, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1980. Photo by Barry Gray.

  • Rex Harrington and Greta Hodgkinson in The Four Seasons, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1996. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
    Rex Harrington and Greta Hodgkinson in The Four Seasons, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1996. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

    Rex Harrington and Greta Hodgkinson in The Four Seasons, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1996. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

  • Jennifer Fournier with Artists of the Ballet in Rubies from Jewels, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1999. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
    Jennifer Fournier with Artists of the Ballet in Rubies from Jewels, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1999. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

    Jennifer Fournier with Artists of the Ballet in Rubies from Jewels, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 1999. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

  • Artists of the Ballet in A Delicate Battle, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 2001. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
    Artists of the Ballet in A Delicate Battle, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 2001. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

    Artists of the Ballet in A Delicate Battle, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 2001. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

  • Sonia Rodriguez with Artists of the Ballet in Cinderella, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 2004. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
    Sonia Rodriguez with Artists of the Ballet in Cinderella, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 2004. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

     Sonia Rodriguez with Artists of the Ballet in Cinderella, a gift from The Volunteer Committee's Build-A-Ballet fund in 2004. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Ballet Boutique & Paper Things

  • Volunteers at the Ballet Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre during The Nutcracker, 2007. Photo by Andrea Rothecker.
    Volunteers at the Ballet Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre during The Nutcracker, 2007. Photo by Andrea Rothecker.
     Volunteers at the Ballet Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre during The Nutcracker, 2007. Photo by Andrea Rothecker
  • Ballet Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre, 2007. Photo by Andrea Rothecker.
    Ballet Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre, 2007. Photo by Andrea Rothecker.

    Ballet Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre, 2007. Photo by Andrea Rothecker.

    Paper Things store, 1960s.

  • Paper Things store, 1960s.
    Paper Things store, 1960s.
    Paper Things store, 1960s.
  • Paper Things, the Volunteer Committee's stationery store in Toronto, 2006. Photo by Peng Chiang.
    Paper Things, the Volunteer Committee's stationery store in Toronto, 2006. Photo by Peng Chiang.

    Paper Things, the Volunteer Committee's stationery store in Toronto, 2006. Photo by Peng Chiang.

 

Building Ballets

Since 1974, most of the monies raised by The Volunteer Committee have been directed to the Build-A-BalletTM Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to purchase new repertoire for The National Ballet of Canada. To date, the following productions have been purchased:

1977La Fille mal gardée
1978Travelling Set for La Fille mal gardée
1979Two Pigeons
1980Etudes
1981Napoli
1982Don Quixote
1983Sphinx
1984Oiseaux Exotiques, The Four Temperaments, Symphony in C
1986The Merry Widow
1987La Ronde
1988Tagore
1989Gloria, Pastorale
1990The Leaves Are Fading, the second detail
1991The Rite of Spring, Concerto for Flute and Harp
1992Divertimento no. 15, Now and Then
1993Oracle
1994Cinderella, Soldiers' Mass, The Concert
1995Company B, Symphonic Variations
1996The Four Seasons, Abdallah: Tales of the Arabian Nights
1997Mozartiana, Episodes, Theme & Variations, the weight of absence
1998La Baiser de la fée, Apollo, Septet
1999Jewels
2000 Madame Butterfly
2001 A Delicate Battle
2002 Jewels - costumes and draperies
2003 Monument
2004 Cinderella
2007 A Footstep of Air
200824 Preludes by Chopin
2009In Colour, DEXTRIS
2010Pur ti Miro

Principal by Chan Hon Goh™

Principal Shoes are uniquely designed by dancers for dancers and are worn by both professionals and students worldwide. Dancers who choose Principal Shoes receive specialized individual attention. Chan Hon Goh regularly draws information from all tiers of dance professionals, in order to always be developing better products. She also works closely with the medical community to design shoes that benefit the health of dancers as they progress through their training.

Chan Hon Goh, former Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, in collaboration with professionals in the dance world, wanted to create top-quality professionally specified shoes that would ease both the physical and the financial pain of dancing. The happy result is Principal Shoes.

For detailed information about Principal Shoes visit the website at principalshoes.com 

How to Purchase Principal Shoes?

Principal Pointe Shoe fittings are by appointment only. For personal attention and expert fitting, call Principal Shoes' expert, Lynne Wilson at 416 921 3517. Lynne is also happy to help out-of-town clients receive the perfect pointe shoe. Dance ribbons specially chosen for Principal Shoes and exclusive hand-made toe pads are also available.

A portion of the sale of each pair of Principal Shoes goes to The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada.

Principal Shoes are also sold at reputable dance retailers in Canada and the United Stated. Please check the Principal Shoes store listings for a store near you at principalshoes.com