Media Release

June 10, 2025... Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that the company has won a UK Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Angels’ Atlas in the category of Best Classical Choreography for Crystal Pite. Angels’ Atlas was presented on Frontiers: Choreographers of Canada featuring work by James Kudelka, Emma Portner and Pite, performed at Sadler’s Wells in London, UK in October 2024. 

 “It is a great honour for The National Ballet of Canada to be recognized with a National Dance Award. The way London audiences embraced our all-Canadian programme featuring works by Crystal Pite, James Kudelka and Emma Portner, was humbling and I am so proud of the entire company,” said Muir. “Angels’ Atlas holds a special place in the company’s history. It was created for us by Crystal in 2020 and has become a significant and beloved work in our repertoire.”  

 Angels’ Atlas was performed by the National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells during its recent tour to London, England in October 2024. Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite created Angels’ Atlas for the National Ballet in 2020.  

 The winners were announced at a ceremony held Monday, June 9 in London.  

 The National Dance Awards celebrate the vigour and variety of Britain’s thriving dance culture. They are presented by the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle, which brings together over 60 dance writers and critics. They are the only awards given by the body of professional dance critics in the UK. 

2024/25 Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group 
 
This tour was made possible in part by grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, The Circulation and Touring component of the Arts Abroad Program and from the Ontario Arts Council's Touring and Circulation Projects program and the Government of Ontario. 
 
Philanthropic support for Angels’ Atlas is generously provided by An Anonymous Donor, Rosamond Ivey, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The Producers’ Circle, The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada and The Gail Hutchison Fund.    

The Producers’ Circle (2020): 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.  

Lead philanthropic support for islands is provided by The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation. 

Passion is generously supported by The Gail Hutchison Fund. 
 
London Tour Patrons
Rosamond Ivey 

 Sylvie Allard & Brian O’Keefe
John & Claudine Bailey
Judi Conacher
Lisa Karen Conway
Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney
Flora Do & Mezan Khaja
Krista Kerr
Eunice Lumsden & Peter Luit
Charles & Anne Morison
Sandra Ruehlow & Wayne Haase
Stephanie Stavro
Carol Weinbaum & Nigel Shuster

UK Friends of The National Ballet of Canada Supporters
Kathleen Crook and James Penturn
Nancy Miller and Glen Ireland
Anonymous
BMO Financial Group

Rob & Joline Brant
Lida Cepuch
Mrs Pamela Kendel-Goodale
Hon. Ralph Goodale
Emma Ireland & Nicholas Hancock
Dasha Shenkman OBE 

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. 

Hannah Galway and Siphesihle November in Angels' Atlas. Photo by Karolina Kuras.