Hope Muir, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that the company has won a UK Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Angels’ Atlas in the category of Best Classical Choreography for Crystal Pite. Angels’ Atlas was presented on Frontiers: Choreographers of Canada featuring work by James Kudelka, Emma Portner and Pite, performed at Sadler’s Wells in London, UK in October 2024.

“It is a great honour for The National Ballet of Canada to be recognized with a National Dance Award. The way London audiences embraced our all-Canadian programme featuring works by Crystal Pite, James Kudelka and Emma Portner, was humbling and I am so proud of the entire company,” said Muir. “Angels’ Atlas holds a special place in the company’s history. It was created for us by Crystal in 2020 and has become a significant and beloved work in our repertoire.”

Angels’ Atlas was performed by the National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells during its recent tour to London, England in October 2024. Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite created Angels’ Atlas for the National Ballet in 2020.

The winners were announced at a ceremony held yesterday, Monday, June 9 in London.

The National Dance Awards celebrate the vigour and variety of Britain’s thriving dance culture. They are presented by the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle, which brings together over 60 dance writers and critics. They are the only awards given by the body of professional dance critics in the UK.

Photo: Scene from Angel’s Atlas. © Karolina Kuras.