Based on Syreeta Hector’s relationship to race and her experiences in classical ballet, Black Ballerina is a powerful exploration of the nuances within one’s identity, and the unconscious ways that we all try to fit in. Performed by Hector, Black Ballerina brings an unbridled energy to the stage. 

The 2019 performance of an earlier version of Black Ballerina was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award. 


Presented in Partnership with Citadel + Compagnie.

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Artist: Syreeta Hector 

Syreeta Hector is a dance artist and educator in Toronto. As a highly accomplished performer, Syreeta has worked for internationally recognized companies like Adelheid Dance Projects, Danny Grossman Dance Company, Political Movement and Toronto Dance Theatre. She is a proud graduate of the National Ballet School’s Teacher Training program, the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and has achieved her Master of Arts in Dance Studies from York University. 

Her work Black Ballerina focuses on the dualities within one’s identity, along with Syreeta’s Blackness and Indigeneity in relationship to classical ballet. This short solo work in progress gained recognition at the SummerWorks Festival in 2019 and won the Stratford Festival Lab Award for Research and Creation. The condensed version of the piece was also performed at the Citadel Dance Mix 2019 and was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award.   

The development of the full-length version of Black Ballerina is taking place through the support of Citadel + Compagnie, Canadian Stage and the Kaaitheatre. Syreeta is currently one of the Luminato Artists in Residence for the 2020–2021 season. 

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Black Ballerina Creative Credits

Choreographer and Dancer: Syreeta Hector  
Movement Dramaturg: Seika Boye (2017–2020) and Dedra McDermott (2020)
Outside Eye: J. Adam Brown  
Lighting Design: Noah Feaver  
Stage Management: Helin Gungoren 
Sound Design: Germaine Liu and Mark Zurawinski 
Music: Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures, Marie Davidson, Richard Reed Parry, A Tribe Called Red and Kendrick Lamar  
Technical/Set Design: Elissa Horscroft, Tristan Goethel, Mary Spyrakis: Thank you to Canadian Stage 
Costume Alterations: Kleanthi Markakis 
Live stream Director: Barbara Willis Sweete 

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Syreeta Hector’s Acknowledgments

Here, I must acknowledge my ancestors – my Mi’kmaq, Black and French Acadian relations. Thank you to J. Adam Brown, Laurence Lemieux for your continuous support and encouragement. Thank you to the technical team at Canadian Stage for delivering piano benches and organic baby powder. Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts for their ongoing support of me and my artistic career. 

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Event Partner: Citadel + Compagnie