Ahead of its 2024-2025 season, The National Ballet of Canada has promoted 4 dancers. Hope Muir, the Toronto-based company’s Artistic Director, expressed the following:
“I am so proud of the brilliant artistry, dedication and versatility exhibited by the entire company throughout the 2023/24 season. It is a great honour and privilege to recognize the exceptional contribution of individual artists with promotions.
Following her nuanced debuts in several leading roles, I am pleased to promote Hannah Galway to First Soloist.
I am also excited to promote Corps de Ballet members Emerson Dayton, Keaton Leier and Isaac Wright to Second Soloist. These three artists have impressed with their artistic growth this past season and I look forward to seeing their careers blossom in the coming years.
Congratulations to all!”
The National Ballet of Canada Has Promoted 4 Dancers
Hannah Galway
was born in Comox, British Columbia and trained at Canada’s National Ballet School. Galway joined The National Ballet of Canada as a RBC Apprentice in 2017. In 2018, she earned the RBC Emerging Artist Award and was awarded the Patron Award of Merit in 2019.
She recently made her debut in the title role in the world premiere of Helen Pickett’s Emma Bovary, as Alice in Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and danced in the North American premiere of Emma Protner’s islands.
Other notable roles that Galway has danced are:
- the Other Stepsister and Blossom in Cinderella
- Nurse in Romeo and Juliet
- Evelyn Lambart in Frame by Frame
Emerson Dayton
was born in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania and trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Before joining the National Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member in 2022, when she also competed in The International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize, she danced with Charlotte Ballet.
Dayton debuted in the title role in Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Her repertoire also includes Olga in Onegin, Blossom in Cinderella and a featured role in Suite en Blanc.
Keaton Leier
was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and trained at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Houston Ballet II. He danced with Atlanta Ballet before joining the National Ballet as a Corps de Ballet Member in 2022.
Leier recently made his debut as Lensky in Onegin and Paris in Romeo and Juliet. His repertoire includes “Emeralds” in George Balanchine’s Jewels, Suite en Blanc, and Symphony in C.
Isaac Wright
was born in Belleville, Ontario and trained at Quinte Ballet School of Canada in Belleville, Ontario and Canada’s National Ballet School. He joined The National Ballet of Canada as a RBC Apprentice in 2015.
Wright recently made his debut as as Lensky in Onegin and in David Dawson’s Anima Animus. His repertoire includes Snow Trio in The Nutcracker and Pussycat in The Sleeping Beauty.
Featured Photo of newly-promoted National Ballet of Canada first soloist Hannah Galway. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
