Lumberjacks, Beavers and Raccoons: Inside NBoC's New Pinocchio

What makes a ballet truly Canadian? Sprinkle in a some lumberjacks, says Will Tuckett. That’s just one of the many details we’re loving about the brand-new production of Pinocchio that the British choreographer is creating at the National Ballet of Canada. Though it doesn’t open until March 11, the company has offered several glimpses into […]

What It Takes to Glow like Jurgita Dronina

Jurgita Dronina is doing fouetté turns with her back to me. Facing the far wall, she builds momentum with the precise placement of each demi-rond-de-jambe. She apologized ahead of time, explaining with a self-deprecating smile: “I can’t spot in the mirror. I’m always telling my partners, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll turn fine onstage.’ ” On this […]

On the Rise: Hannah Fischer

Although her parents were professional dancers, Fischer has come into her own with roles like the Queen of the Wilis in Giselle. Sian Richards, Courtesy NBoC As the Tall Woman in Balanchine’s “Rubies,” long-limbed Hannah Fischer injects a saucy mischievousness into the choreography’s almost jazzy angularity. As the Principal Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty’s prologue, […]

Down for the Count

NBoC bounces back from last season, when 16 dancers were out due to injury. Company class at National Ballet of Canada. Photo by Aleksander Antonijevic, courtesy NBoC. When National Ballet of Canada’s Jenna Savella made her entrance in Alexei Ratmansky’s Piano Concerto #1 in Toronto last May, she created the kind of drama you least […]

Working Out With Chelsy Meiss

Deadlifting 140 pounds gives her a noticeable edge in the studio.   Meiss builds explosive power by jumping on and off a 24-inch box. Photo by Sian Richards, Courtesy NBOC.   As a student, Chelsy Meiss was told that to become a professional ballet dancer, she should never lift weights. “ ‘No one likes an overly […]

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