Xiao Nan Yu has danced some of the most iconic roles in the ballet repertoire. As the lead in “Swan Lake,” “Giselle,” “The Sleeping Beauty,” along with several other classical and contemporary ballets, she has enchanted audiences with her nobility of spirit and technical mastery.
This season, Yu celebrates 20 years with the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto, where she makes her home with her husband and two children. Balancing high-level artistic achievement and family life is not easy, but the Chinese-born Yu has shown great determination and integrity along her journey.
This fall season, the principal dancer is returning to the leading role of Tatiana, from “Onegin,” the 1965 three-act ballet by South African choreographer John Cranko that continues to dazzle audiences with its expressive dancing and psychological realism.
Yu will be honoured for her achievements opening night of the Nov. 23-27 performance run.
Here is a look at some of her best-known roles with the National Ballet of Canada.
For more information about Xiao Nan Yu and the National Ballet of Canada’s production of “Onegin,” visit: http://national.ballet.ca/
