With almost 70 dancers and its own orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada ranks as one of the world’s top international dance companies. In the fall of 2006, Artistic Director Karen Kain successfully moved the company into a new era and performance venue, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Canada’s first purpose-built ballet opera house. Early performances in Toronto by the National Ballet were held at Eaton Auditorium (1951 to 1952) and the Royal Alexandra Theatre (1953 to 1964). In 1964, the National Ballet moved to the O’Keefe Centre (now the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts).

Established as a classical company by founder Celia Franca in 1951, it is the only Canadian ballet company to present a full range of traditional full-length classics. The company’s repertoire includes works by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, William Forsythe, James Kudelka, Jirí Kylián, John Neumeier, Rudolf Nureyev, Glen Tetley, Christopher Wheeldon, Wayne McGregor and Alexei Ratmansky. In addition to its classical repertoire, the company also embraces contemporary works and encourages the creation of new ballets and the development of Canadian choreographers.

Canada’s premier dance company has performed for over 10 million people. The National Ballet performs annual Fall, Winter and Summer seasons plus The Nutcracker. The company has toured in Canada and the United States, and throughout the world including performances in Germany, The Netherlands, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy and Mexico.