Media Release
Sharing the Stage Expands This Season With a Bold New Collaboration
Nova Dance Performs with The National Ballet of Canada
June 17 at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
May 13, 2025... Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, announced today that the company’s Sharing the Stage initiative will expand this season with a landmark collaboration. Since 2019 the programme has connected Toronto’s dance community and engaged new audiences through shared performances. Artists of the National Ballet will perform with Toronto-based Nova Dance, whose work celebrates Bharatanatyam as a vital thread in Canadian contemporary dance. New this year, the performance will take place at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on June 17 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are onsale May 15 for $20 and are general admission with a combination of seated and standing spots. First come, first served.
“In this newly expanded Sharing the Stage model, The National Ballet of Canada provides a unique opportunity to experience two distinct dance styles in dialogue with one another and we look forward to welcoming audiences into this rich artistic experience and hearing the conversation it inspires,” said Muir.
The hour-long performance will feature Nova Dance artists in Calm Abiding by Montréal choreographer José Navas and Maskura by Nova Dance Founder Nova Bhattacharya alongside artists of the National Ballet performing excerpts from Swan Lake and Jennifer Archibald’s new work for the company, King's Fall, which makes its world premiere during the Summer Season. Following the performance, the audience is invited to stay for a conversation between Muir and Bhattacharya about the programme.
Nova Dance was founded in 2008 and has become a leading force in Canadian dance, with a repertoire that reflects Bhattacharya's bold artistic vision. Their genre-defying productions embody the cultural intersections that define Toronto’s dance landscape.
Launched in 2019 with the generous support of the Metcalf Foundation, Sharing the Stage engages with new artists and audiences in the community, offering support and access to ballet. Sharing the Stage first took place outdoors at Harbourfront Centre offering free performances, classes and artists talks. Next season will feature a collaboration with Outside the March on a new work titled Rainbow on Mars. More details to come.
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2024/25 Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
Nicola Wealth presents Swan Lake
Lead philanthropic support for Swan Lake is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, Richard M. Ivey, C.C., an anonymous friend of the National Ballet, The Lawrence Schafer Foundation, Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M., K.C. , Pamela and Paul Austin and The P. Austin Family Foundation with generous underwriting from 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 and The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada. Additional support with thanks to Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., Ann McCullagh Hogarth and The Producers’ Circle (2022).
King's Fall is generously supported by Ilsa Blidner & The Blidner Family Foundation.
The National Ballet of Canada’s Education and Community Engagement programmes are generously supported by the Anna McCowan-Johnson Dance Accessibility Fund at The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation.
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.
Nova Dance 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; Metcalf Foundation; Bulmash-Siegel Foundation. Nova Dance’s 2025 Community Enrichment programming partners are Canada’s National Ballet School, Dancemakers, Jamii on the Esplanade and The Theatre Centre. Nova Dance is Creative Incubator Resident at Citadel + Compagnie.
TIrion Law. 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