One role I have always wanted to do is Carmen.

Luckily, the National Ballet is bringing a new version to Toronto audiences this June and I will finally be able to sink my teeth into this wonderful character. There are many different ballet versions of the famous opera and I will be dancing one by Italian choreographer Davide Bombana. I’ve only seen a little bit of the ballet so far (I viewed a short clip on youtube) but will start learning and rehearsing when I return from Ottawa.

After an all too brief winter season, I’m so glad to have another opportunity to dance Romeo and Juliet.  The company is touring to Ottawa this week and I will dance on Friday night with a brand new Romeo, Aleksandar Antonijevic.  We have been partners for 17 years now and this is one of the only ballets that we have not experienced together.  I’m looking forward to what new and exciting things the performance will bring out in us both.

On March 4^th, I will be dancing in the world premiere of a ballet by choreographer Crystal Pite. We have only had a few weeks of rehearsal together for her to create a 25 minute piece so she’s working extremely quickly. I think she is one of the few choreographers out there today who possesses a truly unique voice and I’m finding the movement incredibly inspiring. I hope the audience responds with the same excitement…

I am so excited about one of my favourite ballets this season, Romeo and Juliet. I will dance the opening night on March 11^th (then again on the 14^th) with Jason Reilly as my Romeo and he’ll arrive from Stuttgart next week, just in time to rehearse for a few days before the shows. We danced this ballet for the first time together a few years ago and he is not only an extraordinary partner but I feel we have a real chemistry together. I’m so thrilled to have him back as my Romeo again.