Hope Muir, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that the Winter Season opens with Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern which makes its North American premiere at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts February 27 – March 6.

“Following the great success of Angels’ Atlas and Emergence, we are grateful to deepen our partnership with Crystal with the North American premiere of Flight Pattern. This haunting work is certain to encourage powerful and important experiences for Canadian audiences,” says Muir.

The Olivier Award-winning Flight Pattern is among Pite’s most vital and affecting works. Created for The Royal Ballet in 2017, it embodies the suffering and resilience of refugees, an experience amplified by the first movement of Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, performed by The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra and acclaimed Canadian Soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee who makes her National Ballet and Four Seasons Centre debut.

“Deeply affecting... Pite is one of the finest dance-makers on the world stage” - The Guardian

Flight Pattern is presented with Serge Lifar’s glorious Suite en Blanc, returning after its acclaimed 2024 company debut. A glorious ode to the artistry and athleticism of classical ballet, this legacy work is chicness personified and unites the full company in exquisite movement.

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Flight Pattern

Choreography:

Crystal Pite

Music:

Henryk Mikolaj Górecki, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs

Soprano:

Measha Brueggergosmen-Lee

Set Design:

Jay Gower Taylor

Costume Design:

Nancy Bryant

Lighting Design:

Tom Visser

Staged by:

Deirdre Chapman and Spencer Dickhaus

Casting to be announced at a later date.

World Premiere: The Royal Ballet, London, England March 16, 2017

The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, February 27, 2026.

Photo: Scene from Flight Pattern.  © 2017 Tristram Kenton.