The National Ballet Of Canada has today announced the cancellation of the 2020 Fall season, including The Nutcracker, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will mark the first time since 1955 that Canada’s premiere ballet company will not perform the classic holiday fairy-tale.
Executive director Barry Hughson said that they had initially been confident to be able to return to the stage by November 2020. But, as public events remain limited due to safety concerns, the National Ballet said it is best to put the safety of their audiences and artists as their foremost priority.
“We have seen our city, province and country pull together during this pandemic,” said Hughson. “That commitment is paying off with good news from Public Health that we are succeeding in flattening the curve. We remain hopeful that this trend will continue and, at this time, we intend to proceed with our Winter Season in March 2021 and our Summer Season in June 2021 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.”
The National Ballet plans to return in 2021 with a reprised production of Angels’Atlas performed with George Balanchine’s Serenade and The Four Seasons by James Kudelka. They will also be producing James’ Cinderella (March 11-20), John Neumeier’s A Streetcar Named Desire (March 24-28) and Swan Lake returning June 11-27. Robert Lepage’s Frame by Frame, which originally received its Toronto debut back in 2018, will be moved to a future season.
“There is nothing every dancer in this company wants more than to be back onstage, but we know this is not possible for now,” said artistic director Karen Kain. “I am particularly heartbroken to have to cancel The Nutcracker. This will be the first year since 1955 that Toronto audiences will not be able to share this holiday tradition together.”
To maintain their connection with audiences, the company plans to continue releasing digital content on social media, including in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes looks into the creative process.
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