After a successful North American premiere on March 2, 2016, at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto, the National Ballet of Canada brings one of the world’s oldest surviving Romantic ballets to the National Arts Centre (NAC) on April 7 to 9. Undoubtedly enchanting, La Sylphide relates the intangible love story between a young Scottish farmer, James, and an alluring Sylphide whose romantic hopes are foiled by an evil witch, leading to tragic results.

“Few companies shine as brilliantly in the classics as The National Ballet of Canada, and I’m thrilled we have the opportunity to show this spectacular production of La Sylphide”, says Cathy Levy, Executive Producer of NAC Dance. “Not only is it a riveting and meaty story filled with emotions and drama, it is also a brilliant showcase for the male and female members of the company.”

Based on ballet master August Bournonville’s 1836 production for the Royal Danish Ballet, and originally created for the Royal Ballet in 2005, this production has been revived and restaged by Danish dancer-choreographer Johan Kobborg.

“I think it’s important that every generation come with their own productions and versions of ballets, not because we should destroy our past or history, but we need to keep these ballets alive and understandable for an audience in 2016”, says Johan Kobborg, also a former Principal Dancer with The Royal Danish Ballet.

With his in-depth knowledge of the Bournonville technique, Kobborg elegantly refashioned the all-time classic while staying true to the original version. This production notably includes music and choreography based on Mr. Bournonville’s original hand-written notes found in Copenhagen’s Royal Opera House archives.

Accompanied by the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Guest Conductor Philip Ellis, La Sylphide will be performed in the Southam Hall on April 7, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m.

ABOUT LA SYLPHIDE

A work that, more than any other, established many of the central themes and conventions of Romantic ballet, La Sylphide remains to this day not just a historical landmark but a vital and thrilling example of the art of storytelling in dance. The ballet relates the story of a young Scottish farmer, James, who, on the eve of their wedding, abandons his betrothed, Effie, after being enticed away to the forest by the ethereal Sylphide of the title. But when the Sylphide dies and Effie marries another, James is left tragically alone.

Johan Kobborg’s expressive and attentive restaging of the ballet fully embraces the ballet’s Romantic preoccupations, such as the link between the feminine and the supernatural and the hero who forsakes happiness in the real world for an idealized, unearthly beauty. But he also employs the ballet’s legendary virtuosity and technical challenges not just as ends in themselves, but to support and enhance our understanding of the characters, enlivening and vividly reframing the work as few modern productions have.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA

One of the top international ballet companies, The National Ballet of Canada was founded in 1951 by Celia Franca. A company of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, the National Ballet has been led by Artistic Director Karen Kain, one of the greatest ballerinas of her generation, since 2005. Renowned for its diverse repertoire, the company performs traditional full-length classics, embraces contemporary work and encourages the creation of new ballets as well as the development of Canadian choreographers. The company’s repertoire includes works by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Rudolf Nureyev, Glen Tetley, John Neumeier, William Forsythe, James Kudelka, Jiří Kylián, Wayne McGregor, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Crystal Pite and Aszure Barton. The National Ballet has toured in Canada, the US and internationally, with recent appearances at Sadler’s Wells in London, England, The Music Center in Los Angeles and Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater in New York City.

CHOREOGRAPHY: Johan Kobborg after August Bournonville   
MUSIC: Herman Severin Løvenskjold                                                               
SET & COSTUME DESIGN: Desmond Heeley                                      
LIGHTING DESIGN: Robert Thomson

DURATION: 1 hour 30 minutes, including one intermission

SPONSORS

This presentation of La Sylphide by The National Ballet of Canada at the National Arts Centre is made possible with support from Jerry and Joan Lozinski.

Special thanks to The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation for supporting La Sylphide.

TICKETS AND PERFORMANCES

The National Ballet of Canada performs La Sylphide in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Thursday April 7 at 8 p.m., Friday April 8 at 8 p.m., and Saturday April 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets vary between $25 and $109 for adults and $25 and $56.50 for students (upon presentation of a valid student ID card).

Groups of 10 or more save 15% to 20% off regular ticket prices; to reserve your seats, call 613 947-7000 x634, or e-mail grp@nac-cna.ca.

Tickets are available for purchase:

in person at the NAC Box Office
at all Ticketmaster outlets *
by telephone from Ticketmaster, 1-888-991-2787 (ARTS)
online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s website (http://www.nac-cna.ca) *

* A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster.