Karen Kain Mentors Robert Binet for 2017 Governor General's Performing Arts Award Mentorship Program

The National Ballet of Canada today announced that Artistic Director Karen Kain, will mentor Choreographic Associate Robert Binet for the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) Mentorship Program in 2017. Mr. Binet will further develop his 2015 ballet, Orpheus, which will be performed by the National Ballet in a future season.

The mentorship program allows past recipients of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, to give back to the next generation. Ms. Kain received the 1997 National Arts Centre Award and the GGPAA for lifetime artistic achievement in 2002.

"Robert Binet is a gifted artist and choreographer," said Ms Kain. "I am truly looking forward to working with him on this incredibly exciting new work."

"Karen Kain has been a huge support in my career and I am thrilled and honoured to have the opportunity to work more closely with her," said Mr. Binet. "Karen is someone I have looked up to all my life and have immense respect for, so to be mentored by her is incredibly exciting. Her artistic insights and guidance will be invaluable to me as I continue to develop Orpheus, a new work I am creating for The National Ballet of Canada. I am very grateful to The Keg Spirit Foundation for this opportunity."

Prior to joining the National Ballet as Choreographic Associate, Mr. Binet was the first-ever Choreographic Apprentice with The Royal Ballet in London. He has created works for New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, The German National Youth Ballet and Wayne McGregor | Random Dance and has collaborated with artists such as Owen Pallett and Belle & Sebastian.

Mr. Binet's latest creation for the National Ballet, Self and Soul, was unveiled at The Twelfth International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize in 2016 and will be presented alongside Genus & Tarantella & The Concert March 29 - April 2, 2017 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. His acclaimed 2016 work The Dreamers Ever Leave You, a co-production between the National Ballet and the Art Gallery of Ontario will be remounted for the 2017/18 season.

A unique partnership between the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation, the National Arts Centre and The Keg Spirit Foundation, the GGPAA Mentorship Program is designed to offer creative guidance to talented mid-career artists, and serves as an investment in future Canadian artistic achievement. Each year, a past laureate of the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award is invited to select a professional artist (or artists) to share, learn and grow from the experience and insight of their mentor. In addition to receiving artistic guidance and an honorarium, each protégé is recognized during the GGPAA celebrations in Ottawa, which culminates with the star-studded GGPAA Gala at the NAC.

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