Mikhail Baryshnikov to be special guest at National Ballet of Canada’s MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights

Karen Kain announced today that Mikhail Baryshnikov will attend this year's annual fundraising gala, MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights as its special guest on 6 June 2017 which celebrates Canada's 150th anniversary.

Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, said,

Mikhail has always been a truly supportive friend to myself as well as to the company. He has a strong connection with the National Ballet, in fact weeks after he defected in 1974, he performed La Sylphide with Veronica Tennant at Ontario Place for an audience of over 10,000. I am so pleased that he will be with us at MAD HOT BALLET to celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial.

MAD HOT BALLET has raised over $10.5 million to support the artists and activities of the National Ballet to date. MAD HOT BALLET: Northern Lights is anticipated to raise over $1 million in one outstanding evening. This year's gala honours luminaries of Canadian dance, Veronica Tennant, Evelyn Hart, Frank Augustyn and Artist-In-Residence Rex Harrington.

The event begins with an hour-long gala performance celebrating Greta Hodgkinson's 25th anniversary with the company, and 20th as Principal Dancer, and also Xiao Nan Yu's 20th anniversary with the company. A reception with themed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will follow, and VIP guests will enjoy a private dinner onstage, followed by dancing with the Artists of the National Ballet.

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.