Le Ballet national du Canada

New York City Ballet’s Sara Mearns to Perform in Jewels

17 avril, 2024… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that Sara Mearns, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, will appear as a Principal Guest Artist in George Balanchine’s Jewels, onstage 15 au 22 juin.  

An internationally celebrated dancer and acclaimed Balanchine interpreter, Mearns is in demand as a guest artist around the world. Toronto audiences will have a unique opportunity to see Mearns perform in each act of Jewels over three consecutive evenings. Mearns will dance Emeralds on 19 juin at 19:30, makes her debut in Rubies on 20 juin at 19:30 and will perform Diamonds on 21 juin at 19:30. 

Mearns performed previously with the National Ballet in juin 2023 when she made her debut as Juliet in Alexei Ratmansky’s Romeo and Juliet dancing opposite Principal Dancer Guillaume Côté. 

"It is such an honour to come back and perform with the National Ballet. I was living in a dream last summer with Romeo and Juliet, so to be able to come back and perform something that is in my blood, feels even more dream-like,” said Mearns. “This company and dancers are so special, and I’m pinching myself that this is happening. I am so excited to be making another Balanchine debut with Rubies and getting to share this experience with Toronto audiences." 

"I am thrilled to welcome Sara back to the National Ballet as she joins us to perform all three acts in Jewels over three consecutive nights. This unique insight into her artistry and experience with Balanchine’s choreography will be an event not to be missed,” said Muir. 

Balanchine’s 1967 glittering triptych Jewels evokes the radiance and architecture of the precious stones that each act is named after, Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds, each set to the music of a different composer, Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Often appearing as standalone pieces, even though it was conceived as a full-length plotless ballet, the National Ballet last performed Jewels in its entirety in 2006. 

Full company casting will be announced at a later date. 

About Jewels > 

Sara Mearns Biography >

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2023/24 Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group 

The performance of Jewels, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.  

Jewels is a gift from The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada. 

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage; and the Government of Ontario through The Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. 

Sara Mearns in Diamonds in Jewels. Photo by Erin Baiano. Courtesy of New York City Ballet. 

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