Biography
Born in the former Yugoslavia,
Hazaros Surmeyan danced with the Skopje Opera Ballet, Belgrade Opera Ballet,
Mannheim Opera Ballet and Cologne Opera Ballet before joining The National
Ballet of Canada as a Principal Dancer in 1966. In that position he performed
many of the lead male classical roles with the company. He was appointed
Principal Character Artist in 1985.
As a Principal Character Artist with the National Ballet, Mr.
Surmeyan’s repertoire includes such roles as Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Prince Gremin in Onegin, Catalabutte in The Sleeping Beauty, Farmer Thomas and
Widow Simone in La Fille mal gardée, Baptista
in The Taming of the Shrew, Dr.
Sloper in Washington Square and the title role in the company premiere
of Balanchine’s Don Quixote.
In addition, Mr. Surmeyan has created roles in James
Kudelka’s An Italian Straw Hat, Cinderella, The Four Seasons and The
Contract (The Pied Piper).
Mr. Surmeyan choreographed an original full-length Anna
Karenina for the Skopje Ballet in 2003.
Quotes
Don Quixote
“some of the evening’s greatest pleasures
were delivered by those in the several character roles, most notably veteran
Hazaros Surmeyan as the Don – you’d travel far to find his equal”
Toronto Star, 2011
Cinderella
“Hazaros Surmeyan brings masterful comic timing and assurance to the peripheral role of a paparazzo prowling for scandal.”
Ballet Review, 2008
The Merry Widow
“Hazaros Surmeyan was splendid as poor cuckolded husband Baron Zeta.”
Ballet Review, 2008