Perhaps the most beloved and famous of Toronto's cultural icons is the National Ballet of Canada. English ballerina Celia Franca launched the company in Toronto in 1951, and served as director, principal dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Over the years, the company has achieved great renown.

The company performs at the Hummingbird Centre in the fall, winter, and spring; tours internationally; and makes summer appearances before enormous crowds at the open theater at Ontario Place. Its repertoire includes the classics and works by Glen Tetley (Alice), Sir Frederick Ashton, and Jerome Robbins. James Kudelka, who has created The Miraculous Mandarin, The Actress, and Spring Awakening, was appointed artist-in-residence in 1991.