Hope’s Insights on Adieu

I’m so pleased you’ll be joining us for Adieu, a tribute to Principal Dancer Guillaume Côté as he takes his final bow with The National Ballet of Canada after 26 remarkable years. This programme showcases the breadth of Guillaume’s artistry and features new work from two Toronto-born creators, for an inspired celebration of Canadian creativity.

Grand Mirage

In this world premiere, Guillaume reunites with his frequent collaborator, Canadian filmmaker Ben Shirinian, to follow a central figure in transition – caught between reflection and the anticipation of what lies ahead. The setting, the aptly named Grand Mirage hotel, is an evocative metaphor for this suspended state of being. Guillaume will perform the lead role, joined by former Principal Dancer Greta Hodgkinson in a guest appearance, reviving a memorable partnership from both their careers.

Bolero

Guillaume created Bolero for our 60th Anniversary Diamond Gala in 2012 and it has taken on several forms since, even performed in a pool of water at Nathan Phillips Square for the 2015 Pan American Games. While Ravel’s iconic music builds through repetition, the choreography changes constantly, playing with our expectations or sense of predictability. It is a vivid expression of Guillaume’s early choreographic voice.

Reverence by Ethan Colangelo

This marks Ethan’s first mainstage creation for us since his appointment as Choreographic Associate in 2024. Set to an original score by Ben Waters, the piece draws inspiration from the Hieronymus Bosch painting The Garden of Earthly Delights and asks how contrasting emotions like euphoria and anxiety coexist in the body. Choreographically, Ethan balances moments of virtuoso physicality with subtlety, all in his signature contemporary style.

King’s Fall by Jennifer Archibald

Jennifer is in huge demand for her unique movement language and approach to storytelling, which sees her incorporating a range of dance styles, from classical ballet to hip hop and street dance. In this first collaboration with the National Ballet, themes of strategy and sacrifice derived from chess become a new lens for navigating life, with Jennifer empowering the dancers to take risks and push beyond their traditional training.

We can’t wait to share this exciting programme with you. See you at the theatre!

Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director

Adieu is onstage May 30 – June 5

Top Photo: Hope Muir. Photo by Karolina Kuras.