After more than a quarter century with the company, Guillaume Côté will take his final bow with The National Ballet of Canada in a program dedicated especially to him – Adieu – featuring an all Canadian artistic team.
From May 30 through June 5, Toronto audiences will see three new works. Jennifer Archibald will present her first piece for the company inspired by the “themes of strategy and sacrifice found in the game of chess” while National Ballet’s Choreographic Associate, Ethan Colangelo, will choreograph his first full company mainstage production, Reverence, set to an original score by Ben Waters.
The highlight of the evening will be created by – and feature – the star of honor himself in collaboration with filmmaker Ben Shirinian. Grand Mirage will also the return of former Principal Dancer and longtime partner of Côté, Greta Hodgkinson, as a guest artist.
For my final performances, I wanted to work with a very close collaborator, film director Ben Shirinian for Grand Mirage. 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 program is rounded out by Côté’s Boléro set to Maurice Ravel’s score.
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Guillaume Côté
Québec-born Côté joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1998 as an apprentice at the age of 17 after training at Canada’s National Ballet School. He has been a Principal Dancer since 2004 and the company’s Choreographic Associate since 2013.
“It’s overwhelming how much beauty and passion there is in my heart for what the National Ballet has given me – a family and a life that has shaped who I am and is something that I will carry forever.”
– Guillaume Côté, Principal Dancer at The National Ballet of Canada
Côté is also Artistic Director of Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and of Côté Danse.
Featured Photo of The National Ballet of Canada‘s Guillaume Côté by Matt Barnes.
