The international ballet training community will come together once again for Assemblée Internationale (AI), April 30-May 6, 2023 in Toronto.
Established by Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) in 2009, Assemblée Internationale is an Olympic calibre gathering of pre-professional dancers and artistic directors from training schools and organizations around the world. A unique and dynamic global event, Assemblée Internationale empowers young artists to develop as leaders and create meaningful connections with their peers. Collaboration is the essential and central value of each version of the festival.
The imperative for systemic change at every level of society is abundantly clear. Assemblée Internationale 2023 (AI23) is an opportunity for leaders of the global ballet training community to come together to examine our accountability in advancing equity, create the change needed in our beloved art form and lead by example for society at large.
To strengthen the language of ballet and make it more relevant and powerful, the delivery and the creative process of ballet must resonate with and reflect the full diversity of our society. Therefore, AI23 will be centred on anti-Black racism.
This version of the festival will be more student-centred than ever before. Students have agency in the development and design of AI23, highlighting capacity to lead evolution within the artform – how it is practiced, delivered, and how it manifests in society.
