National Ballet of Canada

Established as a classical company by founder Celia Franca in 1951, The National Ballet of Canada is the only Canadian ballet company to present a full range of traditional full-length classics. The company’s repertoire includes works by the world’s most celebrated 20th and 21st century masters, Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, William Forsythe, James Kudelka, Jiří Kylián, John Neumeier, Rudolf Nureyev and others.

Canada’s premier dance company has performed for over 10 million people, having toured in Canada, the US and internationally with appearances in London, England, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles with upcoming tours to Paris, France, San Francisco, and Hamburg, Germany.

A native of Toronto, Sonia Rodriguez studied dance in Madrid and at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco. She joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1990 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2000.

Recently, Ms.Rodriguez debuted as Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and as Le Renard in the world premiere of Le Petit Prince. She has danced the principal roles in Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Manon, La Fille mal gardée, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Nijinsky, as well as in numerous George Balanchine ballets and works by contemporary choreographers such as Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, John Neumeier and others. Ms. Rodriguez has had many roles created on her, including the title role in Cinderella, Princess Vasilisa in The Firebird and roles in An Italian Straw Hat and The Four Seasons.

Ms. Rodriguez has held numerous guesting engagements, including the Stars of the 21st Century Gala in New York City, International Ballet Gala in Madrid, Gala of International Dance Stars in Cincinnati, International Ballet Festival of Miami or Houston Ballet Gala. In 2005, she danced the role of Dulcinea in the world premiere of Suzanne Farrell’s re-staging of Balanchine’s Don Quixote at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

In 2014, Ms. Rodriguez was named one of “The 100 Spaniards” being honored for her success abroad and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2012. In 2011, she was honoured with Spain’s Officer’s Cross of the Civil Merit and wrote her first children’s book, T is for Tutu: A Ballet Alphabet.

“Principal Dancer Sonia Rodriguez tirelessly appeared onstage for most of the night, perfectly capturing the mix of playful innocence and bewilderment as she encountered one strange scene after another during her journey.”
Los Angeles Magazine, 2012

Piotr Stanczyk was born in Poznan, Poland and trained at the State Ballet School of Poznan before studying at Canada’s National Ballet School. He joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1998 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2008.

Mr. Stanczyk’s repertoire includes principal roles in Onegin, Canadian premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire, Swan Lake, Pinocchio, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Nijinsky, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Nutcracker and others. Mr. Stanczyk has also performed in company premieres by contemporary choreographers such as Alexei Ratmansky, Wayne McGregor, Kevin O’Day and John Neumeier.

As a guest artist, Mr. Stanczyk has performed at the Vienna State Opera, International Ballet Festival of Miami, Charleston Ballet and Brott Music Festival.

In 2012, Mr. Stanczyk received the Rolex Dancers First Award and was the recipient of the William Marrié Award for Dramatic Excellence in 2003, for his role as Jaguar in The Firebird.

“(In Romeo & Juliette) Mercutio, the wonderful Piotr Stanczyk… offers a fusion of comedy and filigreed footwork”

Los Angeles Times, 2014

Sonia Rodriguez and Piotr Stanczyk will be participating in CHOREA GALA shows in Košice and Bratislava, 9th and 10th June 2018.