Karen Kain Unveils the National Ballet of Canada's 2013/14 Season

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the 2013/14 season. Featured next season are Innovation, a programme of three world premieres by three brilliant Canadian choreographers: Robert Binet, José Navas and James Kudelka, the Canadian premiere of Spectre de la Rose, re-imagined by Stuttgart Ballet's Choreographer in Residence Marco Goecke, and treasured classics Swan Lake and Onegin. The season begins with more touring as the company debuts in Saratoga Springs, New York.

"These are exciting times for The National Ballet of Canada; there is a new vigor and character to the company. Our performances, both at home and on the international stage, have been greeted with praise from both audiences and critics alike and our dancers are clearly galvanized by the experience, as is showcased in their outstanding performances," says Ms. Kain. "The 2013/14 season reflects this energy and dynamism with a rich blend of contemporary and classical ballets that display the trove of talent that make up our remarkable company."

The 2013/14 Season

The National Ballet of Canada will tour for the first time to Saratoga Springs, New York, July 16 - 18, 2013 with the Romantic classic Giselle and an all-Canadian mixed programme of The Four Seasons & Emergence. The National Ballet is the first ballet company outside of New York City Ballet to perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and will be accompanied by the National Ballet Orchestra. The company also tours to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa with Swan Lake, January 30 - February 1, 2014.

The Fall Season in Toronto opens with Swan Lake, one of the central works of the classical canon. Set to Tchaikovsky's timeless score, the National Ballet's Swan Lake is a distinct and powerful adaptation by James Kudelka and runs November 9 - 17, 2013, then returns for the March Break in the Winter Season. The National Ballet presents a second Innovation programme bringing together three Canadian choreographers: Robert Binet, José Navas and James Kudelka. The three world premieres will be presented November 22 - 28, 2013.

Following The Nutcracker, December 14, 2013 - January 4, 2014, is a mixed programme of Watch her by Aszure Barton and A Month in the Country by Sir Frederick Ashton, performed for the first time since 1995. The mixed programme runs February 26 - March 2, 2014.The Winter Season continues with Swan Lake, March 8 - 16, 2014, followed by Onegin, choreographed by John Cranko, March 19 - 23, 2014.

The Summer Season features the Canadian premiere of a stunning re-imagining of the famous Ballets Russes work, Spectre de la Rose, by Marco Goecke, Choreographer in Residence at Stuttgart Ballet, Opus 19/The Dreamer by Jerome Robbins and the second detail by William Forsythe, May 28 - June 1, 2014. The season concludes with Cinderella, choreographed by James Kudelka, June 4 - 15, 2014.