The National Ballet of Canada

Emma Bovary Casting Announced

World Premiere Opens 2023/24 Season
Onstage with Canadian Premiere of Passion

October 31, 2023… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the casting for Helen Pickett’s Emma Bovary and James Kudelka’s Passion. The programme launches the 2023/24 season at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts November 11 – 18.  

As previously announced, Principal Dancer Heather Ogden, First Soloist Jenna Savella and Second Soloist Hannah Galway have been cast in the title role of Emma Bovary. The opening night cast will feature Galway as Emma Bovary and Siphesihle November as Rodolphe, the roles of Charles will be danced by Donald Thom, Lheureux by Spencer Hack and Madame Bovary will be performed by Jordana Daumec. 

Emma Bovary is a reimagining of Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, as told through the eyes of Emma, by award-winning choreographer Helen Pickett and director James Bonas. The riveting new ballet features an original score by Peter Salem, sets and costumes by Michael Gianfrancesco, lighting by Bonnie Beecher, projection design by Anouar Brissel  and animation by Grégoire Pont.   

After a brilliant 25-year career, Principal Dancer Piotr Stanczyk retires from the National Ballet dancing James Kudelka’s Passion. He will perform on opening night opposite Principal Dancer Svetlana Lunkina and will be celebrated by the entire company onstage on November 18 at 7:30 pm.  

James Kudelka’s Passion makes its Canadian premiere this fall. A beautifully layered exploration of love set to Ludwig van Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano in D, Op. 61a, Passion features two distinct styles, one classical and one contemporary, presenting two starkly different portraits of romantic attraction. 

Casting 

Emma Bovary 

Emma Bovary 
Hannah Galway (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Jenna Savella (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm) 
Heather Ogden (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Charles Bovary, Emma’s Husband 
Donald Thom (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Jack Bertinshaw (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm) 
Josh Hall (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Madame Bovary, Emma’s Mother-in-Law 
Jordana Daumec (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Alexandra MacDonald (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm) 
Chelsy Meiss (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Rodolphe Boulanger, Emma’s Lover 
Siphesihle November (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Harrison James (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm) 
Christopher Gerty (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Monsieur Lheureux, Fancy Goods Salesman 
Spencer Hack (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm) 
Kota Sato (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm) 
Ben Rudisin (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm) 

Passion 

November 11, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm 
PIOTR STANCZYK and SVETLANA LUNKINA 
HARRISON JAMES and CALLEY SKALNIK 

November 12 at 2:00 pm/ November 17 at 7:30 pm 
CHRISTOPHER GERTY and HEATHER OGDEN 
LARKIN MILLER and GENEVIEVE PENN NABITY 

November 16, 18 at 2:00 pm 
JACK BERTINSHAW and JENNA SAVELLA 
KEATON LEIER and TINA PEREIRA 

More About Emma Bovary & Passion >

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Lead philanthropic support for Emma Bovary is provided by The Anna McCowan-Johnson New Creations Fund and The Producers’ Circle and with generous underwriting by the Sabourin Family Foundation.    

The Producers’ Circle (2023): Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, 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, The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation and Alexander Younger & Sarah Richardson.   

Passion is generously supported by The Gail Hutchison Fund. The National Ballet also acknowledges support provided by Anne-Marie Canning. 

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

Harrison James is sponsored through Dancers First by Lucy White.       

Svetlana Lunkina is sponsored through Dancers First by Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C.     

Heather Ogden is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin.   

Siphesihle November is sponsored through Dancers First by Jerry Lozinski, O.C. & Joan Lozinski, O.C.   

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.   

Ben Rudisin is sponsored through Dancers First by Sylvie Allard & Brian O’Keefe.   

Jack Bertinshaw is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor.     

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

Chelsy Meiss is sponsored through Dancers First by Anne-Marie Canning.   

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

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

Kota Sato is sponsored through Dancers First by Tony Arrell, C.M. & Anne Arrell.   

Keaton Leier is sponsored through Dancers First by Donald & Suzanne Kopas. 
 
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 Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage; and the Government of Ontario through The Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.  

Siphesihle November and Hannah Galway in Emma Bovary. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

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