Canada’s National Ballet holds auditions in Edmonton [Video]

A prestigious ballet company was in our city this week in search of future stars.

Canada’s National Ballet School held auditions at a local dance studio Thursday and Friday for students from Grade 6 and up.

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The school, located in Toronto, was established in 1959. It offers professional ballet training alongside academic learning.

Artistic director Margaret Tracey came on this summer, and she said it’s been wonderful to travel to different cities and meet young aspiring dancers.

“They come into a space, they don’t know the teacher,” she said. “They are asked to really be vulnerable and shed their inhibitions, and I was so impressed with the heart and soul that I saw in just this first audition.”

Ada Maclean, a dancer of seven years, auditioned Thursday.

“I like how (ballet) allows me to express myself in ways that I might not be able to otherwise,” Maclean said. “It’s kind of like freedom for me also.”

Dancers who nail …