Artists
Our Inspiring Artists
Our artists are the heart of the company and, with donor support, we were able to keep the company whole, our artists safe, our community engaged and our creativity flowing. Our dancers and musicians returned to the art they love with a greater appreciation for the connection they create with live audiences, the ephemeral nature of the art form and the lasting impact they make.
Watch Together Again Video
Sonia Rodriguez and Jillian Vanstone Retire
Sonia Rodirguez
Jillian Vanstone
In March 2022, audiences celebrated and said farewell to two Principal Dancers: Sonia Rodriguez, an exquisite performer who retired as Principal Dancer after 32 years with the National Ballet. Her last bow was as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire by John Neumeier. Jillian Vanstone, who always danced with precision and joy, retired after 22 years with performances in After the Rain by Christopher Wheeldon, specially chosen by her, and made her final bow in Elite Syncopations.
Music and Orchestra
It was incredibly moving for our pianists to return to the studio and for our orchestra to come together to play in person. The orchestra brought to life the haunting beauty of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and the lush scores of his major ballets, all in one season – The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. We also expanded our musical repertoire with Avro Pärt’s compositions for After the Rain and the four contemporary composers selected by Alysa Pires for her world premiere, Skyward. It is always a delight for our orchestra members to join the dancers onstage, play ragtime and be a part of the light-hearted action in Elite Syncopations.
Congratulations
Genevieve Penn Nabity
Christopher Gerty
Selene Guerrero-Trujillo
Tirion Law
Trygve Cumpston
Teagan Richman-Taylor
Immediately following the final performance of Swan Lake, Hope Muir surprised Genevieve Penn Nabity and delighted the audience by promoting her from Second Soloist to Principal Dancer onstage, celebrating her exceptional debut as Odile/Odette. For the 2022/23 season, Hope also announced the promotions of Christopher Gerty to First Soloist and Selene Guerrero-Trujillo and Tirion Law to Second Soloist, acknowledging each for their exceptional artistry and commitment.
In recognition of their professionalism and dedication, Trygve Cumpston and Selene Guerrero-Trujillo were the 2021/22 recipients of the David Tory Award, named after the former Vice-Chairman of the National Ballet’s Board of Directors. Tirion Law and Teagan Richman-Taylor were awarded the Patron Award of Merit by the Patrons’ Council Committee of the National Ballet to celebrate their progress.
Dancer Wellness Programme
The National Ballet’s Dancer Wellness Programme supported the dancers throughout the pandemic on safety, training, flexibility and mental wellness. With the full return to the stage, our focus was on a graduated process to build the dancers’ stamina without over-stressing their bodies. With challenging and varied repertoire to rehearse, coaches began with a modified schedule and our team was on hand to offer injury-prevention strategies and both mainstream and adjunct therapies. We have increased the number of treatment hours, added new therapists and are taking advantage of a wide spectrum of expertise within our wellness team.
RBC Apprentice Programme
The National Ballet retained all 12 dancers in the RBC Apprentice Programme for the 2021/22 season, helping to provide support to the Apprentices who endured the pandemic without in-person training or performances. In addition to a dedicated Apprentice training curriculum, they performed with the company for all major productions, gaining experience working with internationally acclaimed choreographers and rehearsal directors and performing alongside company members. In addition, the Apprentices participated in YOU dance activities, which gave them opportunities to perform principal roles, connect with school children and explore their roles as artists in our community.
More About YOU dance