The National Ballet Of Canada 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Season, Shows, Reviews

byCherilyn J. Lee

January 1, 2020 - Updated on February 20, 2025

The National Ballet of Canada

♦ Location: Toronto, Ontario – Canada

♦ Artistic Director: Hope Muir

♦ Orchestra: The National Ballet Orchestra

♦ Founded in 1951 by Celia Franca

♦ Official Website of The National Ballet of Canada

Table of Contents

The National Ballet of Canada 2025-2026 Season

The National Ballet of Canada 2025-2026 season programming weaves together contemporary premieres with traditional classics.

“The 2025/26 season defines the incredible breadth in the dance world today, incorporating family-friendly ballets, time-honoured classics and vital contemporary work into an eclectic season that balances the thrill of discovery with the comfort of the known.

A highlight I’m particularly excited for is the world premiere of Procession, our first collaboration with choreographers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber that will bring a powerful new vocabulary to our stage.

I’m also thrilled to welcome back Canada’s Jera Wolfe, who will create a new work for our dancers.”

Hope Muir, Artistic Director of National Ballet of Canada

The Fall season opens with Procession, a world premiere by internationally acclaimed choreographers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber which explores the universal human experience of ceremonial movement. Smith and Schraiber have previously worked with companies such as Paris Opéra Ballet and Royal Danish Ballet, explore the universal human experience of ceremonial movement.

Following , Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale returns to Toronto, a contemporary classic which transforms Shakespeare’s tale of jealousy, forgiveness, and redemption into a ballet, complemented by Joby Talbot’s evocative score.

The National Ballet of Canada celebrates 30 years of James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker this season. This production, which has introduced countless audiences to ballet since 1995, continues to captivate with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, sets and costumes from Santo Loquasto, and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton.

In the winter, Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern makes its North American premiere; this moving work examines themes of displacement and human resilience. It is paired with the more classical Suite en Blanc by Serge Lifar.

Spring brings a different perspective to a recent favorite with Will Tuckett’s reimagined Pinocchio featuring new live narration that adds theatrical dimension to this beloved story. It is a production that will speak to audiences of all ages.

The Summer season showcases two works: a premiere by Métis creator Jera Wolfe, whose distinctive blend of contemporary, classical, and Indigenous movement languages marks him as a vital new choreographic voice, alongside Helen Pickett’s expanded production of Emma Bovary, a psychologically nuanced adaptation of Flaubert’s masterpiece.

The 2025-2026 season concludes with Wayne McGregor’s MADDADDAM, a contemporary work based on Margaret Atwood’s trilogy – Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood and MaddAddam – set to Max Richter’s mesmerizing score.

The National Ballet of Canada 2024-2025 Season

Artistic Director Hope Muir announced today The National Ballet of Canada 2024-2025 season, which also marks Guillaume Côté’s final season with the company after 26 years.

“Our 2024/25 season demonstrates the artistry and ambition of The National Ballet of Canada today, as we balance our classical legacy with heightened innovation and involvement with the international dance community.

I have sought richness and complexity across movement and music, introduced important choreographic voices and new collaborations that extend our creative lineage and, above all, to bring a sense of freshness, familiarity and meaning to our stage.

This season will mark the farewell of an outstanding artist in Principal Dancer Guillaume Côté. His brilliant international career encompasses multiple areas of the art form, reflecting his unique talent as a performer, choreographer, director, composer and musician. Guillaume retires from the National Ballet this season with an unforgettable legacy and equally bright future.”

Hope Muir, Artistic Director of National Ballet of Canada

Before the season officially begins, the company returns to Sadler’s Wells in London for the first time in eleven years with Passion by James Kudelka, islands by Emma Portner, and Angels’ Atlas by Crystal Pite.

The fall season opens with a mixed program featuring:

the Canadian premiere of Silent Screen by choreographic duo Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, a profound theatrical experience set to the music of Philip Glass
the Canadian premiere Sir Fredrick Ashton’s Rhapsody as part of Ashton Worldwide, an international festival celebrating Ashton on the 120th anniversary of his birth
a special solo performance by Guillaume Côté, Body of Work

Then the company will showcase two full-length classical ballets – Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle, a work they have performed since 1970, followed by James Kudelka ‘s production of The Nutcracker. The third, Karen Kain’s Swan Lake, will return in the spring.

For their first program in 2025, the company will be featuring the North American premiere of David Dawson’s The Four Seasons in the same program with the world premiere of Marco Goecke’s Morpheus’ Dream set to a soundscape by pianist Keith Jarrett and distinctive vocals of Lady Gaga, and Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading in honor of its 50th anniversary and the company’s first staging since 1995.

In celebration of Côté’s retirement after 6 years with the company, the dancer will choreograph and perform a multidisciplinary solo, Into the fade, with long-time collaborator filmmaker Ben Shirinian. Also on the program is his Boléro and world premieres by the company’s newest Choreographic Associate, Ethan Colangelo and Toronto-born Jennifer Archibald.

“Although my career with The National Ballet of Canada is ending, I carry with me the most beautiful memories of people, places and moments that have shaped who I am and will stay with me forever.

For my final performance, I wanted to work with a very close collaborator, film director Ben Shirinian. Ben and I have worked on many films together including Lost in Motion and Lulu and I thought it would be very special to ask Ben to create a film element as I say farewell.”

The season closes with the North American premiere of Christian Spuck’s Anna Karenina inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s novel of the same name and set to a score by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Witold Lutoslawski.

Source: The National Ballet of Canada