Media Release
First Soloist Chelsy Meiss Retires After 16 Years
October 24, 2024… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, announced today that First Soloist Chelsy Meiss will retire after 16 outstanding years with the National Ballet following The Nutcracker in December. Meiss will be celebrated onstage by the entire company as she says farewell dancing the role of Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis in Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle on November 23 at 2:00 pm.
“With The National Ballet of Canada, I have had the privilege to live out my dream, to dance diverse and brilliant repertoire that challenged me as an artist, to work with colleagues who inspired me and to perform for audiences that I love and will miss dearly. I look forward to the new opportunities this next chapter in my life will bring and to spending more time with my husband and daughter,” said Meiss.
“Chelsy has given so much in her incredible 16 year career to The National Ballet of Canada and will be greatly missed by all. She has approached each role and opportunity with commitment, artistry and joy and I am grateful for her generosity both in the studio and on stage. I wish her all the best for the future and thank her for her immense contributions to the company,” said Muir.
Meiss’ infectious energy and technical precision is illuminated in a wide repertoire of classical and contemporary roles, from her heartbreaking Juliet in Romeo and Juliet to the elegant Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, radiant female lead in Paz de la Jolla and more. In 2019, she made history as the first woman to perform the tap-dancing Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Her artistry, dedication and warmth earned her the Patron Award of Merit in 2009 and the David Tory Award in 2016.
Born in Melbourne, Australia and trained at Karen Curlis School of Dance, Thelma Williams School of Dance, The Victorian College of The Arts and The Australian Ballet School in Melbourne, Meiss danced with San Diego Ballet before joining The National Ballet of Canada as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2008. She became a First Soloist in 2015.
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Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
Desjardins presents Giselle
iA Financial Group presents The Nutcracker
Giselle was produced as a memorial to the late William P. Walker and was made possible through the courtesy of many generous friends of the National Ballet.
The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence and Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges its collaboration with Canada's National Ballet School in the production of The Nutcracker.
Chelsy Meiss is sponsored through Dancers First by Anne-Marie Canning.
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 Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport.
Chelsy Meiss. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
For more information, please contact:
Touchwood PR
Andréa Grau, Founder and Owner
Keira Hunt, Publicity and Promotions Manager
Chelsea Cabello, Senior Publicist
Press@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Kate Dresser, Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca
