Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today the principal casting for Karen Kain’s acclaimed production of Swan Lake which returns to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto March 8 – 22.

This season, Principal Dancer Heather Ogden will perform in Swan Lake for the final time. A pivotal moment in Ogden’s career, Odette/Odile was her first major role, showcasing her extraordinary artistry and powerful technique. Although she is saying farewell to Swan Lake, Ogden is not retiring from the stage and will remain a Principal Dancer on The National Ballet of Canada roster. Ogden is partnered by Principal Dancer Harrison James and performs on March 15 at 2:00 pm, March 18 at 7:30 pm and will be celebrated onstage following her final Swan Lake performance on Friday, March 21 at 7:30 pm.

Making their debuts this Winter Season are Principal Dancers Tirion Law and Koto Ishihara as Odette/Odile and Spencer Hack as Prince Siegfried. Reprising the roles are Principal Dancers Genevieve Penn Nabity, Naoya Ebe, Christopher Gerty and Ben Rudisin. As previously announced, Jessica Xuan of Dutch National Ballet joins the company as Principal Guest Artist.

The National Ballet premiered Kain’s new staging of this iconic work in 2022. The acclaimed production emphasizes the love story at the heart of Swan Lake and is inspired by Erik Bruhn’s landmark production. Beloved the world over, Swan Lake is the epitome of classical ballet, with its timeless choreography, drama and achingly beautiful score by Tchaikovsky.  

Casting:

Odette/Odile

Tirion Law* (March 8, 22 at 2:00 pm/March 12, 19 at 7:30 pm)

Genevieve Penn Nabity (March 8, 11, 14, 22 at 7:30 pm)

Koto Ishihara* (March 9, 13, 16 at 2:00 pm)

Jessica Xuan*+ (March 13, 15, 20 at 7:30 pm)

Heather Ogden (March 15 at 2:00 pm/March 18, 21 at 7:30 pm)

Prince Siegfried

Naoya Ebe (March 8, 22 at 2:00 pm/March 12, 19 at 7:30 pm)

Christopher Gerty (March 8, 11, 14, 22 at 7:30 pm)

Spencer Hack* (March 9, 13, 16 at 2:00 pm)

Ben Rudisin (March 13, 15, 20 at 7:30 pm)

Harrison James (March 15 at 2:00 pm/March 18, 21 at 7:30 pm)

Rothbart

Josh Hall* (March 8, 22 at 2:00 pm/March 12, 19 at 7:30 pm)

Ben Rudisin (March 8, 11, 14, 22 at 7:30 pm)

Kota Sato (March 9, 13, 16 at 2:00 pm)

Peng Fei Jiang* (March 13, 15, 20 at 7:30 pm)

Spencer Hack (March 15 at 2:00 pm/March 18, 21 at 7:30 pm)

* Debut

+Principal Guest Artist

All casting is subject to change.

Photo: Heather Ogden as Odette. © Karolina Kuras.