Hope Muir, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, announced today that former Principal Dancer Greta Hodgkinson has been appointed Apprentice Programme Director. Hodgkinson assumed the position on July 1 at the start of the 2025/26 season.

“I am delighted to congratulate Greta on her appointment as Apprentice Programme Director,” said Muir. “Her exceptional experience as one of the company’s most acclaimed and beloved dancers makes her uniquely suited to mentor the next generation of artists. I have no doubt she will make a profound impact as she guides these young dancers at such a pivotal point in their careers.”

As Apprentice Programme Director, Hodgkinson will work closely with the RBC Apprentices, equipping them with the skills, confidence and resilience essential for a professional dance career. These emerging artists benefit from the rare opportunity to train within a professional company, learning from notable mentors and artists while gaining invaluable stage experience with the National Ballet and YOU dance, the company’s signature education and community engagement programme.

Renowned for her dazzling technical virtuosity, dramatic depth and nuanced characterizations, Hodgkinson joined the National Ballet in 1990 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1996, a position she held until her retirement in 2020. Over the course of her illustrious career, she performed every major role in the classical canon and distinguished herself in the contemporary repertoire, creating roles in works by some of the world’s most celebrated choreographers, including William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Glen Tetley, John Neumeier, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Wayne McGregor, James Kudelka and Crystal Pite.

Following her retirement from the stage, Hodgkinson served as Artist-in-Residence before being named Apprentice Programme Director.

Photo: Greta Hodgkinson.