The National Ballet of Canada

The National Ballet of Canada, founded in 1951 by Celia Franca on the British model, is Canada’s flagship classical company. From its base at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, it presents a rich repertoire of full-length story ballets and a strong programme of contemporary creation. The company has been shaped by directors including Rudolf Nureyev, who staged his lavish "The Sleeping Beauty" for it, and by James Kudelka and Karen Kain, and it is celebrated for the quality of its corps de ballet and its acclaimed productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Anna Karenina". With its own associated school, the company sustains a complete classical tradition and represents Canadian ballet on the international stage.