Debuts in The Sleeping Beauty
Bridgett Zehr and Jillian Vanstone as Princess Aurora
Piotr Stanczyk as Prince Florimund

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, announced the newest generation of dancers who will make their debuts in Rudolf Nureyev’s the landmark production of The Sleeping Beauty, which opens the company’s 2009/10 season on November 13, 2009 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Newest Principal Dancer Bridgett Zehr and First Soloist Jillian Vanstone make their debuts as Princess Aurora. Making his debut as Prince Florimund will be Principal Dancer Piotr Stanczyk. First Soloist Tina Pereira, Second Soloist Elena Lobsanova and Corps de Ballet members Wei Chen and Naoya Ebe will make their debuts dancing the Bluebird pas de deux. Dancing the Diamond pas de deux for the first time will be Corps de Ballet members Chelsy Meiss and James Shee.

The Sleeping Beauty is a ballet that epitomizes, perhaps better than any other, the meaning of classical ballet. Never simply a retelling of the well-known fairy tale, the ballet is conceivably the greatest of the Tchaikovsky-Petipa collaborations, unparalleled in both its artistic ambitions and its summation of an entire dance culture.

When Mr. Nureyev set The Sleeping Beauty on the National Ballet in 1972 it became one of the most significant milestones in the company’s history. The work proved the perfect vehicle for many of the company’s young dancers, including Veronica Tennant, Karen Kain, Tomas Schramek and Frank Augustyn. They rushed to embrace the challenge and opportunity with a level of eagerness and energy that established the company’s international reputation and set the bar for subsequent generations of National Ballet.

The principal casting and performance schedule will be announced shortly.

The Fall Season continues November 25 – 29, 2009 with a mixed programme featuring
The Four Temperaments & Glass Pieces & World Premiere by Aszure Barton.

The Sleeping Beauty
Friday, November 13 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 15 at 1:00 pm
Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, November 19 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Friday, November 20 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 21 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 22 at 2:00 pm

Tickets:
Prices range from $20 to $210.

Discount rates are available for groups of 10 people or more. Rush seats are available on the day of the performance in person at the box office for $30.

DanceBreak members aged 16 to 29 can purchase specially-priced tickets on the day of the performance, depending on availability. Visit DanceBreak.ca.

Venue:
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen Street West, Toronto.

Box Office:
The box office is located at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (145 Queen Street West) or call 416 (toll free 1 866) 345 9595. Tickets can also be purchased online at national.ballet.ca.

Website:
national.ballet.ca