Canadian Ballet Festival
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Ballet Festival was an annual event
staged in Canada
from 1948 to 1954 that brought together various Canadian dance companies to generate public interest in classical dance. Prior to the festivals, it was difficult for professional Canadian dancers to earn a living by practicing their art in their own country. When the festivals ended in 1954 after six years, Canadian dancers were able to find paid work in Canadian television
practicing their art.
formed the Canadian Ballet Festival under the direction of the manager David Yeddeau. The Canadian Ballet Festival Association (CBFA) became the official organizing body. In a statement to the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
, the Canadian Ballet Festival Association identified the purpose of the festival as being to generate interest in dance in order "to prepare a professional field for Canadian dancers, thus enabling them to earn their livelihood by the practice of their own art in their own country."
brought together three ballet companies. In addition to the fledgling Winnipeg Ballet, the festival included the Toronto
-based Volkoff Canadian Ballet, and a Montreal
-based modernist troupe under Ruth Sorel
. Kay Armstrong, with the British Columbia
School of Dancing planned on performing which would have established her as the only Canadian choreographer with an original ballet. However, when the promised travel subsidy was withdrawn, Armstrong's troupe couldn't afford to participate.
Canadian composers wrote most of the music for the Second Annual festival, held in Toronto
in March 1949 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre
. It featured eleven companies, including Neo Dance Theatre, and 21 ballets were performed, including Cynthia Barrett's, Song of David and Boris Volkoff's Red Ear of Corn. John Jacob Weinzweig wrote the first Canadian score commissioned by the Festival. Samuel Hersenhoren directed the orchestra. Subsequent to the 1949 festival, participating teachers formed the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association in order to unite, communicate and monitor teaching standards.
The Third Annual Festival occurred in November 1950 in Montreal
with fifteen Canadian companies and 23 original Canadian ballets. Sydney Johnson and Marcel Valois wrote introductions in the 1950 program. Le Ballet Concert performed Étude and Le Rêve Fantasque. Celia Franca
, founder of the National Ballet of Canada
, was invited by the CBFA to be a guest.
The Fourth Festival was held in Toronto in 1952. The Fifth Festival occurred in the spring of 1953 at the Little Theatre in Ottawa
. The British Columbia Ballet Company performed Leonard Gibson's Gershwin Preludes. By 1954, when the Festivals were over, Canadian dancers were able to find paid work in television through the National Ballet of Canada
and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
.
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
staged in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1948 to 1954 that brought together various Canadian dance companies to generate public interest in classical dance. Prior to the festivals, it was difficult for professional Canadian dancers to earn a living by practicing their art in their own country. When the festivals ended in 1954 after six years, Canadian dancers were able to find paid work in Canadian television
Television in Canada
Television in Canada officially began with the opening of the nation's first television stations in Montreal and Toronto in 1952. As with most media in Canada, the television industry, and the television programming available in that country, are strongly influenced by the American media, perhaps...
practicing their art.
Formation
In 1947, the Royal Winnipeg BalletRoyal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
formed the Canadian Ballet Festival under the direction of the manager David Yeddeau. The Canadian Ballet Festival Association (CBFA) became the official organizing body. In a statement to the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
The Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, otherwise known as the Massey–Lévesque Commission, chaired by Vincent Massey, examined Canada's cultural sovereignty from the United States and various other nations. The report released its findings in 1951 when it...
, the Canadian Ballet Festival Association identified the purpose of the festival as being to generate interest in dance in order "to prepare a professional field for Canadian dancers, thus enabling them to earn their livelihood by the practice of their own art in their own country."
Events
The inaugural festival in 1948 in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
brought together three ballet companies. In addition to the fledgling Winnipeg Ballet, the festival included the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based Volkoff Canadian Ballet, and a Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based modernist troupe under Ruth Sorel
Ruth Abramovitsch Sorel
Ruth Elly Abramovitsch Sorel was a German choreographer, dancer, artistic director and teacher. She spent the first half of her career working mainly in Europe and then was predominantly active in Canada after moving to that nation in 1944...
. Kay Armstrong, with the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
School of Dancing planned on performing which would have established her as the only Canadian choreographer with an original ballet. However, when the promised travel subsidy was withdrawn, Armstrong's troupe couldn't afford to participate.
Canadian composers wrote most of the music for the Second Annual festival, held in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in March 1949 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre
Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located near King and Simcoe Streets. Built in 1907, the Royal Alex is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America.-History:...
. It featured eleven companies, including Neo Dance Theatre, and 21 ballets were performed, including Cynthia Barrett's, Song of David and Boris Volkoff's Red Ear of Corn. John Jacob Weinzweig wrote the first Canadian score commissioned by the Festival. Samuel Hersenhoren directed the orchestra. Subsequent to the 1949 festival, participating teachers formed the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association in order to unite, communicate and monitor teaching standards.
The Third Annual Festival occurred in November 1950 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
with fifteen Canadian companies and 23 original Canadian ballets. Sydney Johnson and Marcel Valois wrote introductions in the 1950 program. Le Ballet Concert performed Étude and Le Rêve Fantasque. Celia Franca
Celia Franca
Celia Franca, was the founder of The National Ballet of Canada and its artistic director for 24 years ....
, founder of the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
, was invited by the CBFA to be a guest.
The Fourth Festival was held in Toronto in 1952. The Fifth Festival occurred in the spring of 1953 at the Little Theatre in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. The British Columbia Ballet Company performed Leonard Gibson's Gershwin Preludes. By 1954, when the Festivals were over, Canadian dancers were able to find paid work in television through the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
.
See also
- Aspendos International Opera and Ballet FestivalAspendos International Opera and Ballet FestivalThe Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival has been organized by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet directorate since 1994 with international participation by opera and ballet companies from several different countries...
- International Ballet Festival of HavanaInternational Ballet Festival of HavanaThe International Ballet Festival of Havana , is a ballet festival held in the Great Theater of Havana, Cuba every two years...
- USA International Ballet CompetitionUSA International Ballet CompetitionThe USA International Ballet Competition, or USA IBC, is one of the world's top competitions for ballet. Located in Jackson, Mississippi, this competition is attended by dancers from all over the world to represent their country for bronze, silver, or gold medals in a variety of categories of...