Media Release
Introducing Our Annas
Koto Ishihara, Heather Ogden and Genevieve Penn Nabity Dance the Title Role in Anna Karenina
North American Premiere June 13 – 21
June 9, 2025... Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today the casting for the North American premiere of Anna Karenina by Christian Spuck. Principal Dancers Koto Ishihara, Heather Ogden and Genevieve Penn Nabity will dance the title role of Anna Karenina. The much-anticipated production is onstage June 13 – 21 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.
A role demanding vast emotional range as well as technical precision, the portrayal of Anna Karenina is one of the most challenging in the ballet canon. In describing Anna, Spuck says, “Anna Karenina is an emotional rollercoaster, especially for the dancers portraying Anna. They need stamina and honesty because they really have to put their emotions out there. Visually, seeing a dancer perform with that kind of directness is incredibly moving.”
Count Alexei Vronsky will be performed by Principal Dancers Christopher Gerty and Spencer Hack and Second Soloist Larkin Miller. Alexei Karenin will be danced by Principal Dancers Naoya Ebe and Ben Rudisin and Second Soloist Isaac Wright.
The opening night cast on June 13 will feature Ogden in the title role, Gerty as Count Alexei Vronsky and Rudisin as Alexei Karenin.
One of Europe’s foremost choreographers, Spuck is Artistic Director of Staatsballett Berlin and previously, Director of Ballett Zürich. Hailed a leader in balletic storytelling, Spuck “has an instinct for ferreting out a good story and Anna Karenina is one of the best... a choreographer who possesses both intelligence and theatrical flair, qualities which work to great effect in this ballet.” (Critical Dance)
Created in 2014 for Ballett Zürich, Spuck’s brilliant distillation of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina has drawn widespread praise for its profound choreography that is modern yet theatrical. Completing the production are lush 19th-century costumes by Emma Ryott, cinematic projections and a curated score featuring music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Witold Lutoslawsk
Casting
Anna Karenina
Heather Ogden (June 13, 14, 21 at 7:30 pm/June 19 at 2:00 pm)
Genevieve Penn Nabity (June 14 at 2:00 pm/June 18, 20 at 7:30 pm)
Koto Ishihara (June 15 at 2:00 pm/June 19 at 7:30 pm)
Alexei Karenin
Ben Rudisin (June 13, 14, 21 at 7:30 pm/June 19 at 2:00 pm)
Isaac Wright (June 14 at 2:00 pm/June 18, 20 at 7:30 pm)
Naoya Ebe (June 15 at 2:00 pm/June 19 at 7:30 pm)
Count Alexei Vronsky
Christopher Gerty (June 13, 14, 21 at 7:30 pm/June 19 at 2:00 pm)
Larkin Miller (June 14 at 2:00 pm/June 18, 20 at 7:30 pm)
Spencer Hack (June 15 at 2:00 pm/June 19 at 7:30 pm)
– 30 –
2024/25 Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
IG Wealth Management presents Anna Karenina.
Lead philanthropic support for Anna Karenina is generously provided by Tony Arrell, C.M. & Anne Arrell, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney and the Walter Carsen New Creations Fund. Additional support is provided by The Producers’ Circle (2025).
The Producers’ Circle (2025): John & Claudine Bailey, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, 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 Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation and Alexander Younger & Sarah Richardson.
Naoya Ebe is sponsored through Dancers First by Gretchen Ross.
Christopher Gerty is sponsored through Dancers First by Ms. Nancy Viner & Dr. Raymond Stein.
Heather Ogden is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin.
Genevieve Penn Nabity is sponsored through Dancers First by George & Kathy Dembroski.
Ben Rudisin is sponsored through Dancers First by Sylvie Allard & Brian O’Keefe.
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 Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport.
Koto Ishihara, Heather Ogden and Genevieve Penn Nabity. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Touchwood PR
Andréa Grau, Founder and Owner
Keira Hunt, Senior Manager of Publicity and Promotions
Chelsea Cabello, Senior Publicist
NBOC@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Kate Dresser, Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca