The National Ballet of Canada

Overview

In her first creation for The National Ballet of Canada, Jennifer Archibald hopes to unsettle traditional expectations of ballet and classical dancers. The piece will implement Archibald’s research into the benefits of the Meisner Technique for dancer performance, which she pursues as Acting Lecturer at the Yale School of Drama. The Meisner Technique encourages performers to respond instinctively to their surroundings, a principle Archibald will apply to her creative process.

Five Things to Know

1. 1The Meisner Technique was developed by American actor Sanford Meisner to help actors create spontaneous, authentic performances – to attain truthfulness in a fictional space. Famous practitioners include Grace Kelly, Jeff Bridges and Diane Keaton.
    
2. 2Jennifer Archibald trained at The Ailey School and the Maggie Flanigan Acting Conservatory. Her work incorporates traditional and non-traditional elements from Hip Hop, contemporary dance, classical ballet, street dance and funk.
    
3. 3About her new work for the National Ballet, Archibald says, “I am excited about making a ballet dancer ferocious and not conservative, about painting a classical line into an impulsive gritty stroke.”
    
4. 4In 2017, Archibald became the first woman in history to be appointed Resident Choreographer for Cincinnati Ballet and the first with a background in Hip Hop. She says ballet gives her a unique opportunity to tell stories and inspire human connection.
    
5. 5Archibald has also worked commercially for Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and MAC Cosmetics and as a movement specialist and choreographer with chart-listed musicians and actors, including Audrey Tautou in Amélie and The Da Vinci Code.

Jennifer Archibald. Photo by Anders J. Larsson.

The Choreographer

Jennifer Archibald is the Founder and Artistic Director of Arch Dance Company and Program Director of ArchCore40 Dance Intensives in New York City. In addition to choreography, she serves as Acting Lecturer at the Yale School of Drama, Guest Faculty Lecturer at Columbia/Barnard College and Resident Choreographer at Cincinnati Ballet.

Credits

Choreography:
Jennifer Archibald

Music:
To Be Announced

Costumes:
The National Ballet of Canada Wardrobe Department

Lighting Designer:
The National Ballet of Canada Production Department, Jeff Logue

World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto, ON

Lead philanthropic support for Spotlight Series is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with additional support from the Producers' Circle.

The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., 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 & Joan Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation, Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.