Celia Franca served as the first artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada when it was established in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario. The National Ballet, a group of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, has been under the direction of artistic director Hope Muir since 2022. The company, renowned for its extensive repertory, plays conventional full-length classics, welcomes modern work, and supports the growth of Canadian choreographers and the creation of new ballets.