The National Ballet of Canada returns to Harbourfront Centre in August with Sharing the Stage, free outdoor performances under the stars on the Concert Stage as well as free dance classes and interactive conversations.
We are thrilled to welcome guest companies Compañía Carmen Romero, Lua Shayenne Dance Company and Rock Bottom Movement. Based in the Toronto dance community and representing a wide range of styles, the guest companies will share the stage with dancers from The National Ballet of Canada.
All performances are free. Seating is general admission.
New This Year: A limited number of seats will be available for reservation online. Details to follow in July.
If you require accessible seating, a limited number of seats can be reserved in advance. Pre-booking is available as of August 9. Please contact us at 416 345 9595 or by email at info@national.ballet.ca.
Outdoor Performances by The National Ballet of Canada With Guest Companies
August 17 – 19, 2023 at 8:00 pm
Concert Stage, Harbourfront Centre
The National Ballet will present three outdoor performances on the Concert Stage, August 17 – 19. Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director, and Robert Binet, Curator and Producer, CreativAction and Special Initiatives, have curated a programme that features the National Ballet and three guest companies. The programme features the dynamic Ever New by Binet, a pas de deux from the sublime Concerto by Kenneth MacMillan, an excerpt from Rena Butler’s sensual Alleged Dances, a new CreativAction Micro-Commission from Indigenous choreographer Cameron Fraser-Monroe for National Ballet dancers as well as new works from guest companies Compañía Carmen Romero, Lua Shayenne Dance Company and Rock Bottom Movement. The programme will feature live music.
Show + Tell
August 17 – 19, 2023, 7:15 – 7:45 pm
Concert Stage, Harbourfront Centre
Show + Tell is an opportunity to hear directly from dance artists about how they work, providing a window into their creative process and dance form as well as see excerpts from their choreography.
Show + Tell is free. Registration is required and seating is general admission. Following Show + Tell, you will remain in the same seat for the performance.
Schedule to be announced at a later date.
Dance With Us
August 17 – 19, 2023, 6:00 – 6:45 pm
Stage-in-the-Park, Harbourfront Centre
Get moving with free dance classes taught by local artists! The free classes are drop-in and vary from Ballet to West African to Flamenco.
Schedule to be announced at a later date.
Alleged Dances Excerpt
Choreography: Rena Butler
Music: John Adams, John's Book of Alleged Dances (1994)
By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, INC., publisher and copyright owner
Costume Design: Hogan McLaughlin
Lighting Design: Jeff Logue
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts, Toronto, March 3, 2023
Produced and commissioned by The National Ballet of Canada.
Lead philanthropic support for Alleged Dances is provided by an Anonymous Donor, with additional support provided by The Producers’ Circle.
The Producers’ Circle (2023): 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.
Waves | Vagues Performed by Lua Shayenne Dance Company
Text, Composer, Choreography: Lua Shayenne
Text/Story Developer & Dramaturge: Tawiah M’carthy
Percussionists, Music Collaborators: Kemar Scarlett, Cécé Haba, Connor ‘Chino’ Chang, Walter Maclean
Interpreters: Aisha Nicholson, Rose-Mary “Rosie” Harbans, Kwasi Obeng-Adjei, Miranda Liverpool, Monique Pascall, Lua Shayenne
Waves | Vagues was rehearsed at Harbourfront Centre in partnership with The National Ballet of Canada’s Sharing the Stage, August 2021.
World Premiere
New Work by Cameron Fraser-Monroe
Choreography: Cameron Fraser-Monroe
Additional credits to come.
RiAquiTa by Compañía Carmen Romero
Choreography: Carmen Romero
Additional credits to come.
Concerto Pas de Deux
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan
Music: Dmitri Shostakovich, Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102 (1957)
Costume Design: Jürgen Rose
Lighting Design: John B. Read
World Premiere: Deutsche Opera Ballet, Berlin, Germany, November 30, 1966
The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: O’Keefe Centre (now Meridian Hall) Toronto, November 6, 1987
KID SISTER Performed by Rock Bottom Movement
Choreography/Direction: Alyssa Martin
Composer: Jacob Vanderham
Creative Collaborators: Drew Berry, Brayden Jamil Cairns, Sam Grist, Sierra Kellman
Costume Design: Brayden Jamil Cairns
Performers: Drew Berry, Brayden Jamil Cairns, Sam Grist and Jessica Mak
Ever New
Choreography: Robert Binet
Music: Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Let Us Dance (Arca Remix), Sunset Village, Ever New
Costume Design: The National Ballet of Canada Wardrobe Department, Stacy Dimitropoulos, Wardrobe Supervisor
Lighting Design: Jeff Logue
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Betty Oliphant Theatre, Toronto, October 31, 2022
CreativAction is supported by The H. John McDonald Foundation, an Anonymous Donor and Lucille & Urban Joseph, O.C.
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.
The RBC Apprentice Programme is sponsored by The RBC Emerging Artists Project.
Additional support for the RBC Apprentice Programme is provided by Turnout.
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