Media Release
Jessica Xuan Makes Debut as Principal Guest Artist in Swan Lake
January 28, 2025… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, announced today that Jessica Xuan, Principal Dancer with Dutch National Ballet, will appear for the first time with the company as a Principal Guest Artist in Karen Kain’s Swan Lake, onstage March 8 – 22, 2025.
A graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), Xuan was born in Beijing, China and moved to Toronto at the age of five. While a student at NBS, Xuan danced several roles in James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker and always dreamed of dancing again with The National Ballet of Canada. Now, Xuan is set to dance the role of Odette/Odile opposite Principal Ben Rudisin as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. Additional casting and performance dates will be announced at a later date.
“I am delighted to welcome Jessica back home to Toronto. It is an incredible full-circle moment from her time as a student at NBS to return as a Principal Guest Artist with the full company onstage for her National Ballet debut as Odette/Odile, a role that beautifully showcases both her artistry and depth of experience,” said Muir.
A Principal Dancer with Dutch National Ballet since 2020, Xuan joined the Junior Company in 2013 and the Corps de Ballet the following year. Her repertoire includes lead roles in such ballets as Giselle, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, Onegin, La Bayadère and Swan Lake. In 2018, Xuan competed in the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria and won the gold medal in the Senior Women group category.
Swan Lake is the epitome of classical ballet, beloved the world over for its drama, Tchaikovsky’s achingly beautiful score and timeless choreography. In 2022, The National Ballet of Canada presented a new production of this iconic work, directed and staged by Artistic Director Emerita Karen Kain. Kain’s acclaimed staging emphasizes the love story at the heart of Swan Lake and is inspired by Erik Bruhn’s landmark production.
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2024/25 Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
Swan Lake is presented by: Nicola Wealth
Lead philanthropic support for Swan Lake is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with generous underwriting from Richard M. Ivey, C.C., an anonymous friend of the National Ballet, Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M., K.C., Pamela and Paul Austin and The P. Austin Family Foundation, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Nancy Pencer, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Gretchen Ross & Donald Ross, O.C., Anne-Marie Canning, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Tim & Frances Price, The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada and Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M. Additional support provided by The Producers’ Circle.
The Producers’ Circle (2022): Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., 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, Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.
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 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.
Jessica Xuan with Jakob Feyferlik and Artists of Dutch National Ballet. Photo by Altin Kaftira.
For more information, please contact:
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Keira Hunt, Publicity and Promotions Manager
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NBOC@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Kate Dresser, Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca