We have detected that you are using an adblocking plugin in your browser.

The revenue we earn by the advertisements is used to manage this website. Please whitelist our website in your adblocking plugin.

THE SCOOP | Sad News For Ballet Fans: Principal Dancer Jillian Vanstone Is Retiring

By Michael Vincent on March 5, 2022

National Ballet of Canada; Principal Dancer Jillian Vanstone
Photo courtesy of the National Ballet of Canada

You have one last chance to see Jillian Vanstone in After The Rain which opens this week.

The National Ballet of Canada has announced that principal dancer, Jillian Vanstone will be retiring after 22 years with the company.

She is expected to appear in two new pieces — After the Rain and Elite Syncopations — the former a premier.

After the Rain is on stage as part of their Mixed Winter Program, March 9 –13, 2022 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

A fitting send-off

After the Rain is a two-part work by Christopher Wheeldon that features choreography for three couples set to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa and Spiegel im Spiegel. In contrast with this fast-paced opening, the second section features moments of quiet pas de deux where you can see Vanstone’s grace truly shine.

In other National Ballet News…

…Principal Dancer Siphesihle November will be making his mainstage debut with On Solid Ground for nine dancers. The Ballet expresses the joy, self-awareness and exploration of body movements.

Appreciate a good Turkey Trot or Shimmy? You’ll want to note Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, which includes ragtime favourites by Scott Joplin and other composers of the roaring twenties. All the music is played by a live band on stage.

There’s also Skyward, from Victoria-BC born Alysa Pires’. Marking her mainstage debut for The National Ballet of Canada, the ballet is inspired by Starlings in flight. It also deals with her how she felt during her pregnancy.

Fun fact: Alysa Pires’ pregnancy started at the same time she conceived Skyward, and gave birth just after.

For details on attending the National Ballet’s Winter Program opening on March 9, 2022, see HERE.

#LUDWIGVAN

Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.

Sign up for the Ludwig van Daily — classical music and opera in five minutes or less HERE.

Michael Vincent
Follow me
Share this article
lv_toronto_banner_high_590x300
comments powered by Disqus

FREE ARTS NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX, EVERY MONDAY BY 6 AM

company logo

Part of

Terms of Service & Privacy Policy
© 2024 | Executive Producer Moses Znaimer