Spotlight Series

Spotlight Series Brings Ballet to You

Spotlight Series launched successfully this winter, offering digital footage of live performances compiled in programmes of two to three works each in a particular style or theme. Captured at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts before the pandemic, the recordings are available online for 30 days each.

The virtual season will also feature commissioned works in a variety of choreographic styles. As previously announced, these include ballets by Kevin A. Ormsby, Jera Wolfe and Choreographic Associate Alysa Pires, along with newly secured works from Jennifer Archibald, Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya, Principal Dancer Brendan Saye and Principal Dancer and Choreographic Associate Guillaume Côté. In each case, the creative process will incorporate the idea of a virtual audience by experimenting with camera angles, editing and other cinematic techniques.

Filming of all new works and several others from the existing repertoire has been postponed due to the provincial lockdown. However, The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra was able to record the music for Ormsby’s new ballet, Trase Pa, and for George Balanchine’s Apollo before lockdown began. We look forward to resuming filming for Spotlight Series when emergency orders are lifted.

Until then, we are pleased to share the world premiere of a new film by Canadian director Ben Shirinian that captures excerpts from Robert Binet’s beautiful immersive ballet, The Dreamers Ever Leave You, shot at Harbourfront Centre last fall before Toronto moved into lockdown.

national.ballet.ca/Spotlight-Series

Donor Impact

The ballets in Spotlight Series reflect the breadth of the National Ballet repertoire and the talents of its dancers, musicians and production staff, all of whom continue to work and create in preparation for a return to live performance. The series also shows the company becoming more fluent with virtual programming as a way to reach new audiences and promote diverse artistic voices.

Donors are driving these efforts by giving to Together for Ballet, a recovery campaign that is keeping the company creative, connected and financially secure during the pandemic. Thank you for making Spotlight Series possible and thank you, above all, for tuning in. Our greatest reward is having you in the audience.

Lead philanthropic support for Spotlight Series is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with additional support from The Producers’ Circle. The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation, Anna McCowan Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry & Joan Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation, Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.

Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso, C.M. and Allan Slaight, C.M. Heather Ogden is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin.