The National Ballet of Canada

Cinderella Features Five Debuts

Canadian Dance Icon Evelyn Hart Appears as Guest Artist 
English National Ballet’s Emma Hawes to Dance Cinderella 
Genevieve Penn Nabity, Tina Pereira and Calley Skalnik, Christopher Gerty, Larkin Miller Make Debut in Lead Roles

March 1, 2023… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the casting for James Kudelka’s Cinderella. Canadian dance icon Evelyn Hart joins the company as a guest artist, performing the roles of the Fairy Godmother and Stepmother. Cinderella is onstage March 10 – 19, 2023 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #CinderellaNBC   

“One of Canada’s greatest dance icons, I have long admired Evelyn Hart and followed her career since I was a young dancer,” said Muir. “Evelyn is known for not only her gifts as an international ballerina but for her ability to embody a wide variety of characters. I am excited to see her in this production of Cinderella and our artists are so fortunate to have her in our studios. I cannot wait to share her incredible talent with Toronto audiences.” 

Principal Dancers Genevieve Penn Nabity and Tina Pereira and First Soloist Calley Skalnik make their debuts as Cinderella. First Soloist Christopher Gerty and Corps de Ballet Member Larkin Miller make their debuts as Prince Charming. Former First Soloist and English National Ballet Principal Dancer Emma Hawes returns to the National Ballet stage to dance the title role. 

This season, First Soloist Alexandra MacDonald and Jordana Daumec and Second Soloists Brenna Flaherty, Hannah Galway and Selene Guerrero-Trujillo will make their debuts as Stepsisters.  

The opening night performance on March 10 will feature Principal Dancer Genevieve Penn Nabity and Corps de Ballet Member Larkin Miller as Cinderella and Prince Charming. The Stepmother will be danced by Evelyn Hart and the Stepsisters will be performed by First Soloist Tanya Howard and Second Soloist Brenna Flaherty. 

Choreographed by James Kudelka, Cinderella utilizes to the full the irresistible appeal of the original fairy-tale, preserving its dramatic, satiric and comic elements. Less the conventional rags to riches theme and more a classic romance in which love restores a natural order, Cinderella enchants with romance, wit and humour. Cinderella is set to Prokofiev’s vibrant score with Art Deco-inspired designs by David Boechler and lighting by Christopher Dennis. 

Relaxed Performance  

The National Ballet will present a mainstage Relaxed Performance of Cinderella Act II on March 14 at 2:00 pm. This performance is designed to welcome the Neurodiverse, members of the d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Disability Communities as well as families and individuals who find access to the arts limited, to enjoy a live ballet performance in a more approachable environment. The performance is now sold out.  

About the Relaxed Performance > 

The Winter Season will open with a mixed programme featuring the Canadian premiere of Anima Animus by David Dawson, the world premiere of Alleged Dances by Rena Butler and George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, March 3 – 23. The season will conclude with The International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize on March 25, 2023. 

About Cinderella >  

About Anima Animus & Alleged Dances & Symphony in C > 

About The Erik Bruhn Prize >  

Casting  

Cinderella 
Genevieve Penn Nabity* (March 10 at 7:30 pm/ March 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Tina Pereira* (March 11, 19 at 2:00 pm/ March 14 at 7:30 pm) 
Calley Skalnik* (March 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ March 16 at 2:00 pm) 
Emma Hawes⁺ (March 14 at 2:00 pm/ March 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Her Prince Charming 
Larkin Miller* (March 10 at 7:30 pm/ March 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Naoya Ebe (March 11, 19 at 2:00 pm/ March 14 at 7:30 pm) 
Harrison James (March 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ March 16 at 2:00 pm) 
Christopher Gerty* (March 14 at 2:00 pm/ March 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Her Stepmother 
Evelyn Hart*⁺ (March 10 at 7:30 pm/ March 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Rebekah Rimsay (March 11, 19 at 2:00 pm/ March 14, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm) 
Alejandra Perez-Gomez (March 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ March 16 at 2:00 pm) 

Her Stepsister 
Tanya Howard (March 10, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm/ March 12, 14, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Alexandra MacDonald* (March 11, 19 at 2:00 pm/ March 14 at 7:30 pm) 
Selene Guerrero-Trujillo* (March 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ March 16 at 2:00 pm) 

Her Other Stepsister 
Brenna Flaherty* (March 10, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm/ March 12, 14, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Hannah Galway* (March 11, 19 at 2:00 pm/ March 14 at 7:30 pm) 
Jordana Daumec* (March 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ March 16 at 2:00 pm) 

Fairy Godmother 
Stephanie Hutchison (March 10, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30/ March 12, 14, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Alejandra Perez-Gomez* (March 11, 19 at 2:00 pm/ March 14 at 7:30 pm)
Evelyn Hart*⁺ (March 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ March 16 at 2:00 pm) 

*Debut  
⁺Guest Artist  

All casting is subject to change.

– 30 – 

BMO Financial Group Presents the 2022/23 Season.  

Clarins presents Cinderella. 

Cinderella is a gift from The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada. 

The National Ballet of Canada’s Relaxed Performances and the accompanying Visual Guide are made possible in part through the generous support of The Estate of Helen Allen Stacey and an Anonymous Donor.  

The National Ballet of Canada’s Education and Community Engagement programmes are generously supported by the Anna McCowan-Johnson Dance Accessibility Fund at The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation.   

Lead philanthropic support for Alleged Dances is provided by an Anonymous Donor, with additional support provided by The Producers’ Circle.  

The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry Lozinski, O.C. & Joan Lozinski, O.C., The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation. 

Symphony in C is a gift from the Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada.  

The International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize is sponsored by John and Claudine Bailey. 

Principal Guest Artist Emma Hawes’ appearance is generously sponsored by J.J. Dayot and Rick Schiralli.  

Naoya Ebe is sponsored through Dancers First by Gretchen Ross.   

Harrison James is sponsored through Dancers First by Lucy White.   

Genevieve Penn Nabity is sponsored through Dancers First by George & Kathy Dembroski.  

Tina Pereira is sponsored through Dancers First by The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C.  

Christopher Gerty is sponsored through Dancers First by Ms. Nancy Viner & Dr. Raymond Stein. 

Alexandra MacDonald is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. 

Calley Skalnik is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. 

Hannah Galway is sponsored through Dancers First by Alison & Alan Schwartz.   

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; and the Government of Ontario through The Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. 

Tina Pereira and Naoya Ebe in Cinderella. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

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