Media Release

September 15, 2026… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that Principal Dancer Agnes Su and First Soloist Donald Thom are the recipients of the 2026 Dancers First Award. Su is recognized for her standout performance as Hermione in The Winter’s Tale by Christopher Wheeldon as well as her performance in the world premiere of Gush by Alyssa Martin. Thom is honoured for his brilliant portrayals as both Polixenes and Antigonus in The Winter’s Tale. The award was presented at a dinner and presentation last night in Toronto.

"Donald and Agnes are both exceptional artists who embody the very best of The National Ballet of Canada. They each have had an outstanding season, demonstrating remarkable versatility, musicality and depth, while brining something deeply individual to each role they performed. It is a great pleasure to honour them with the Dancers First Award and to thank them for these stand out performances," said Muir.

The Dancers First Award recognizes stellar performances in the previous season and is juried by a committee of members of the National Ballet’s Artistic Staff. At the ceremony, Su and Thom were each presented with an award generously provided by John Covington Jr. and Robert Lukey. 
 
Agnes Su was born in Newport Beach, California and trained at the Pacific Coast Academy of Dance and the Southland Ballet Academy. She danced with The Stuttgart Ballet before joining The National Ballet of Canada as a Principal Dancer in 2025. Su brings power to contemporary ballets and a gift for characterization to classical roles, all while showcasing her dazzling technique. With the National Ballet, her repertoire includes Amanda in Wayne McGregor's MADDADDAM, Blue Fairy in Will Tuckett's Pinocchio, Snow Queen in The Nutcracker and Adage and La Flûte in Suite en Blanc. She has danced leading roles with other companies in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Onegin, Mayerling, The Taming of the Shrew, Firebird, The Lady of the Camellias, Blake Works I, The Second Detail and more.  

Agnes Su's Biography 

Donald Thom was born in Kanata, Ontario and trained at Linda Jamieson School of Dance and The Royal Ballet Upper School. He danced with The Royal Ballet before joining The National Ballet of Canada in 2015 and was promoted to First Soloist in 2019. A versatile artist with remarkable dramatic range, Thom recently performed in the world premiere of Procession by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber and the North American premiere of Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern. His repertoire includes such roles as Hilarion in Giselle, Benno in Swan Lake, Prince Gremin in Onegin, Stiva in Anna Karenina, Puck in The Dream, The Mad Hatter and Lewis Carrol/The White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Uncle Nikolai in The Nutcracker and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet.  

Donald Thom's Biography 
 
The National Ballet’s 75th anniversary season opens this fall with John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, October 31 – November 8, followed by Crytal Pite’s Emergence and Sol León and Paul Lightfoot's Silent Screen, November 13 – 20.  

The National Ballet of Canada is grateful to the 27 donors who currently support our dancers through the Dancers First programme with funds for artistic development, performance opportunities and health and performance resources.

The National Ballet would like to acknowledge the generous support of Gretchen Ross for the Dancers First Dinner and John Covington Jr. and Robert Lukey for the Dancers First Award.   

About Romeo and Juliet 

About Emergence / Silent Screen