Hope Muir Unveils the 2026/27 Season: 75 Years of Bold Ambition
Artistic Director Hope Muir has unveiled the exhilarating 2026/27, celebrating the company’s 75th anniversary. Explore a rich and inspiring selection of works that honour our illustrious history while boldly looking to the future. Subscriptions on sale now!
“Celia Franca founded this company with a vision that was nothing short of audacious. To build a world-class ballet company in Canada in 1951 took extraordinary courage, conviction and imagination. That spirit of bold ambition still lives at the heart of The National Ballet of Canada today.
It's a great honour to introduce our 75th anniversary season, my fifth as Artistic Director. With this season, we endeavour to pay tribute to a legacy of storytelling, innovation and transformation, reflecting on our history and the artistic values that have shaped this company, while at the same time looking boldly forward.”
– Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director
2026/27 Season
Explore 2026/27 Season
New Video: 75 Years of Bold Ambition
In 1951, Sydney Mulqueen, Pearl Whitehead and Aileen Woods had a vision to create Canada’s very own ballet company. Together, they galvanized a community of likeminded individuals and raised funds to bring Founding Artistic Director Celia Franca from England to Toronto. With this act, The National Ballet of Canada was created and solidified its place in Canadian history with its inaugural performance at The Eaton Auditorium on November 12, 75 years ago.
Explore the illustrious 75-year history of The National Ballet of Canada! From a visionary idea in 1951 to one of the world’s leading ballet companies, our story is shaped by trailblazers, defining moments and an enduring commitment to excellence. Watch as we honour the legacy that brought us here and look ahead to a bold new future.
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The National Ballet of Canada: 75 Years of Bold Ambition
The National Ballet of Canada is built by many. We honour the dancers, creators, musicians, production and administrative staff, and generous donors, past and present, who have contributed so much to this organization throughout its long and illustrious history.
Moments in Our History
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The National Ballet of Canada's first performance took place on November 12, 1951 at Eaton Auditorium. Artists of the Ballet in Les Sylphides. Photo by Ken Bell.
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National Ballet Founder and Artistic Director Celia Franca and Betty Oliphant, Founding Principal of Canada's National Ballet School, outside St. Lawrence Hall. (1957). Photo by Gloria Grant.
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Artists of the Ballet at the O'Keefe Centre, the company's new performance home. (1963). Photo by Ken Bell.
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Lois Smith and Erik Bruhn in the CBC Production of Swan Lake. (1967). Photo courtesy of CBC.
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Karen Kain and Rudolf Nureyev at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. (1975). Photo by L.D Vartoogian.
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Mikhail Baryshnikov and Veronica Tennant in the CBC Production of La Sylphide. (1974). Photo by Martha Swope.
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Nadia Potts and Tomas Schramek in Frederick Ashton's La Fille mal gardée, acquired by Alexander Grant in 1976. Photo by Andrew Oxenham.
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Erik Bruhn and Rudolf Nureyev in rehearsal for La Sylphide. (ca. 1964). Photo by Pete Ward.
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Walter Carsen and Reid Anderson at the construction site for the company's new studios and administrative offices, The Walter Carsen Centre for The National Ballet of Canada. (1995). Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
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Rex Harrington and Martine Lamy in the world premiere of James Kudelka's The Nutcracker. (1995). Photo by David Street.
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Opening gala for the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the company's new performance home. (2006). Photo by Bruce Zinger.
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Emergence was Crystal Pite's first commission for a ballet company and went on to receive four Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Pite and then Artistic Director Karen Kain at the awards ceremony. (2009). Photo by Alex Felipe.
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Christopher Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was the company's first co-production with The Royal Ballet and went on to international success. Jillian Vanstone and Aleksandar Antonijevic in the North American Premiere. (2011). Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
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Artistic Director Hope Muir in the studio with Carlos Acosta prior to the North American premiere of his acclaimed production of Don Quixote, presented in 2024. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
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Genevieve Penn Nabity in Don Quixote. (2024). Photo by Karolina Kuras.
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In 2024, the company returned to London and Paris with an all-Canadian programme to great acclaim. The company on stage at London's Sadler's Wells. (2024). Photo by Karolina Kuras.
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Hannah Galway and Siphesihle November in Angels' Atlas. (2020). Photo by Karolina Kuras.
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Anima Animus was the first work the company performed by Resident Choreographer David Dawson. Spencer Hack, Genevieve Penn Nabity and Ben Rudisin. (2023). Photo by Karolina Kuras.
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In 2025, Artistic Director Hope Muir commissioned choreographic duo Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber to create a work on the company. Procession premiered to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Artists of the Ballet. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
