Harrison James wins Rolex Dancers First Award

Harrison James in Apollo. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada announced today that Principal Dancer Harrison James is the recipient of the 2019 Rolex Dancers First Award. The award was presented by Ms. Kain and Maxim Lamarre, President and CEO, Rolex Canada Ltd., at a dinner and presentation in Toronto last night.

The Rolex Dancers First Award recognizes outstanding performances in the previous season and is juried by a committee of members of the National Ballet’s Artistic Staff. Mr. James was recognized for the dramatic power, impeccable technique, intense musicality and artistic authenticity in his outstanding performances as Alexei Vronsky in Anna Karenina, Oberon in The Dream and the title role in Apollo. At the ceremony, Mr. James was presented with a specially engraved Rolex watch.

Mr. James will appear onstage with the National Ballet in Giselle which opens the National Ballet’s 2019/20 season in Toronto, November 6 – 10, 2019.