National Ballet of Canada Announces MAD HOT BALLET: NORTHERN LIGHTS Repertoire

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the repertoire for MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights. The company's annual million-dollar fundraising gala takes place on June 6, 2017 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

This season marks Greta Hodgkinson's 25th year with the National Ballet and her 20th anniversary as a Principal Dancer. Ms. Hodgkinson will dance with Guest Artist Marcelo Gomes, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, performing Nuages, choreographed by Ji?í Kylián with music by Claude Debussy.

Choreographic Associate Robert Binet's The Sea Above, The Sky Below makes its world premiere and will be performed by Principal Dancer Xiao Nan Yu, who is celebrating her 20th anniversary with the National Ballet this season, along with Principal Dancer Harrison James and Corps de Ballet member Félix Paquet. The Sea Above, The Sky Below will feature costumes by Canadian fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu and is set to music by Gustav Mahler.

The gala performance will also include the company premiere of Surge by Mr. Binet. Performed by 14 students from Canada's National Ballet School where it premiered in 2008, Surge is set to music by Richard Einhorn.

Principal Dancer Sonia Rodriguez and First Soloist Skylar Campbell will dance George Balanchine's Tarantella.

Principal Dancers Elena Lobsanova and Naoya Ebe will dance a pas de deux from Coppélia.

The gala performance will conclude with Principal Dancer Jurgita Dronina and First Soloist Francesco Gabriele Frola performing a pas de deux from Le Corsaire.

Celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary, MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights is anticipated to raise over $1 million in one outstanding evening that will also honour icons of Canadian dance, Veronica Tennant, Evelyn Hart, Frank Augustyn and Artist-In-Residence Rex Harrington. This year's gala co-chairs are Emily Burnett and Jonathan Bloomberg.

Following the performance, the gala evening will continue with a reception featuring themed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for all guests in the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room. VIP guests are invited to a private dinner onstage prepared by Executive Chef Sash Simpson of Mark McEwan's North 44 Caters followed by dancing with the Artists of the National Ballet.

Tickets are now on sale.

IF YOU GO:

MAD HOT BALLET
June 6, 2017
At Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen Street West, Toronto

VIP Cocktail Reception and Gala Dinner
Single Ticket: $1,500
Tables of 10: $25,000 and $15,000

MAD HOT BALLET Performance PLUS
Single Ticket: From $60

Tickets can be purchased by calling 416 (1 866) 345 9595 or online at madhotballet.ca.

Repertoire and casting is subject to change.

Pictured: Svetlana Lunkina. Photo by Karolina Kuras. Projected stars by STScI and NASA.

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