Media Release
The National Ballet of Canada’s YOU dance Livestream to Reach 20,000 Students Across Canada
York University Residency a Success!
May 14, 2026... Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that the National Ballet’s YOU dance livestream on May 20 will reach 20,000 students from across every province and territory in Canada. The company also just completed a successful YOU dance residency at York University.
The National Ballet’s flagship education and community engagement programme, YOU dance is a constellation of initiatives that celebrate ballet as a means of creative self-expression. YOU dance includes movement and creation workshops, performances, Relaxed Performances, accessible workshops, residencies, community ballet classes and livestreams. Through these programmes, the National Ballet aspires to encourage imagination, movement and an appreciation for the arts. Now in its 18th season, 390,000 students have participated in programming since the creation of YOU dance in 2007.
On May 20, students from 147 school boards across Canada will participate in YOU dance’s annual livestream and enjoy a performance by the National Ballet RBC Apprentices. The livestream is anticipated to reach 20,000 students, from 177 cities in every province and territory in Canada. At just over one hour, the livestream includes curriculum-based resources, pre- and post-performance discussions and opportunities for students to join in the fun and get moving!
The week-long YOU dance residency at York University concludes today and offered nearly 1,300 students an engaging dance experience. Led by Senior Manager of Education and Community Engagement Lisa Robinson and Tanya Howard, Teaching Artist, the residency included 50 in-school workshops and five live performances by the National Ballet’s dancers and RBC Apprentices, all at no cost.
The residency closes with a community performance for 300 family and community members. The performance features the RBC Apprentices as well as Definitely Dance, Elite Dance Initiative for Youth, Inspiring Community Dance Connections and York University’s Department of Dance. During the residency, students from Blaydon Public School collaborated with Annemarie Cabri, Senior Teaching Artist from the National Ballet, to create a new work that will also be performed.
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2025/26 Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
The RBC Apprentice Programme is sponsored by RBC.
The National Ballet of Canada's YOU dance programme is made possible thanks to lead philanthropic support by Elizabeth A. Currie & Richard J. Currie, O.C., The Azrieli Foundation, The Lawrence Schafer Foundation, and The Anna McCowan-Johnson Dance Accessibility Fund.
Further generous support is provided by Susanne Boyce & Brendan Mullen, Fatima Laher, Geoff & Catharine Bertram and the Robert & Joan Shatilla Education Fund.
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 with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport.
2025/26 RBC Apprentices. Photo by Karolina Kuras,
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Touchwood PR
Andréa Grau, Founder and OwnerChelsea Cabello, Senior PublicistSydney Clarke, Publicist
NBOC@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Sarah Johnsen, Interim Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca