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Together We Excel
February 25, 2021

Jessie Brooks.

“With donor support, I can continue to keep my skills at a high level so that I am ready to jump back into performing with the company as soon as it is safe to do so.”Jessie Brooks, Principal Horn

Our artists thrive on creative opportunities to learn, excel and connect with others through music and movement. Thanks to the Together for Ballet campaign, the dancers remain fully employed and engaged with socially-distanced ballet classes and rehearsals, filmed performances, digital donor events and virtual partnerships with hospitals, schools and youth organizations. Our musicians, as well, remain on contract and are staying connected with each other, audiences and donors through various activities.

Here are some of the ways that donor generosity is helping our artists excel:

• New health and safety measures at The Walter Carsen Centre enable the dancers to train and rehearse in small pods (prior to the current lockdown). This has made it possible for The National Ballet of Canada to commission seven new works for Spotlight Series, including ballets from four artists making choreographic debuts with the company: Kevin A. Ormsby, Jera Wolfe, Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya and Jennifer Archibald.
   
• Ongoing Health and Wellness support, through virtual physiotherapy sessions and in-person therapies with safety protocols in place, helps the dancers maintain their conditioning and prevent injuries on a reduced schedule and prepares them for a strong return to live performances.
   
• Members of The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra will provide live accompaniment for two new works in Spotlight Series: Kevin A. Ormsby’s Trase Pa and Alysa Pires’ in a state of vanishing. The Orchestra also recorded Igor Stravinsky’s Apollon Musagète for the upcoming film of George Balanchine’s Apollo for Spotlight Series.
   
• Dancers are participating in virtual programming for children and youth through a new company partnership with VIBE Arts, an award-winning charitable organization that provides high quality arts education to under-resourced communities. Our flagship engagement programme, YOU dance, is conducting virtual school visits with an expanded roster of 12 dancers from the RBC Apprentice Programme.

Brenna Flaherty. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

“I am so thankful always, but especially now during these unprecedented times, for the generosity of the National Ballet's donors and loyal patrons. Because of your support, we are able to safely continue to provide beautiful dance experiences to our local and national audiences.”Brenna Flaherty, Corps de Ballet