The National Ballet of Canada Announces Virtual Season Featuring Digital Premieres and New Works

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Executive Director Barry Hughson today announced the launch of the company's virtual season in September with Expansive Dances, three digital premieres created in isolation by Choreographic Associates Robert Binet, Guillaume Côté and Alysa Pires.

Expansive Dances

The Expansive Dances films, created in partnership with Evergreen, will be released weekly beginning September 10. Each film, shot on location in Toronto, will feature a solo performer. The works present dancers moving boldly through space in direct contrast to our present confined existence due to the pandemic, heralding hope for a brighter future. The three Expansive Dances films are directed by the acclaimed director Ben Shirinian and produced by Mr. Shirinian and Jared Cook of Lookout.

For Expansive Dances, Mr.a?? Binet a??revisited a work he created for Company Wayne McGregor in 2012, this time in the vast outdoor setting of Evergreen Bricka?? Works.a?? Lake Maligne was inspired by the work of Canadian painter Lawren Harris and is deeply connected to nature and the symbolism of the natural world. Performed by First Soloist Spencer Hack, Lake Maligne is set to Arve Henriksen's Loved One and Smog's Palimpsest.

Mr. Côté has created a new work titled Lulu on fellow Principal Dancer and wife Heather Ogden, set to Max Richter's November. The film a??follows a woman as she lets go of her tainted pasta?? to a??start a??anew. This is Mr.a??Côté's third collaboration with Mr. Shirinian, with whom he created a??the acclaimed dance films Lost in Motion anda?? Lost in Motiona?? II.a??

Ms. Pires has adapted excerpts of her existing work, In Between, performed by Second Soloist Christopher Gerty with original music by Adam Sakiyama. In this version, filmed onsite at Evergreen Brick Works, Ms. Pires condensed her original work to a solo that expresses a sense of restlessness and a yearning for comfort that feel especially relevant during these uncertain times.

Spotlight Series

The National Ballet has commissioned new works by Kevin A. Ormsby and Jera Wolfe who will both make their choreographic debuts with the company.

Artistic Director of KasheDance,a?? Mr. Ormsbya?? also works as an Arts Strategies Consultant. With a career that spans over 30 years, he has performed with various companies and projects in Canada, the Caribbean and the U.S. Rehearsals for Mr. Ormsby's new work begin in mid-September.

Choreographer and performer Mr. Wolfe is an Associate Artist with Red Sky Performance. His choreographic works have been presented by Jacob's Pillow, Canadian Stage, Fall For Dance North and the Venice Biennale (all with Red Sky Performance), Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Canada's National Ballet School. Mr. Wolfe's work is currently in rehearsal.

Both new works will be presented in the Spotlight Series which features curated digital presentations of new and existing work as part of the National Ballet's virtual season. More details about the Spotlight Series to be announced shortly.

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