The National Ballet of Canada has confirmed Principal Dancer Jillian Vanstone will retire next season, closing out a 22-year career.
“Watching Jillian’s growth as an artist over these past 22 years has been a true pleasure,” explained Karen Kain, Artistic Director Emerita. “An effervescent stage presence, technical mastery and beautiful characterization are her hallmarks. A wonderfully versatile dancer, Jillian brings joy and finesse to every role she performs. I look forward to celebrating her brilliant career and could not think of a more fitting ballet than Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain for her to say farewell with.”
Vanstone will close her career with a final performance of After the Rain by Christopher Wheeldon, March 23 – 27, 2022.
Hailing from Vancouver Island, Vanstone joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1999 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2011 after making her debut as Alice in the North American premiere of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Christopher Wheeldon.
Vanstone’s is notable for her performances as Princess Aurora in Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and the title roles in Giselle and Manon.
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