National Ballet of Canada nurturing the next generation of artists

TORONTO – Guillaume Côté first joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1998, eventually working his way up the ranks to Principal Dancer.

“I’m a dancer at heart 100 per cent,” says Côté. “I think everything else is an extension of that.”

Three years ago he added Choreographic Associate to his title, creating several short works for the company, but this year he will be choreographing his first full-length ballet, Le Petit Prince.

“It’s a story about philosophy and how one should try and find happiness,” said Côté

Côté will be adapting it from the renowned book that has touched the hearts of both children and adults since 1943.

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Karen Kain, Artistic Director for The National Ballet of Canada says, “I think the important thing to me is new work, and the fact that it’s by one of our own is very important to me.”

Dancing the role of Le Petit Prince is Dylan Tedaldi, who says he is still figuring out what makes him tick as a character.

“I’m a bit of an alien, I’m a bit of an outsider, and I have my own way of moving and my own way of interpreting every situation that I’m in.”

The ballet will present audiences with a portrait of humanity and the story of the mysterious Little Prince who travels through the universe meeting people along the way.

Le Petit Prince will run June 4th through 12th at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.