Evelyn Hart
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Anne Hart, CC
, OM
, FRSC (born April 4, 1956) is a Canadian
ballerina
and former principal dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
.
Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, she studied dance at the Dorothy Carter School of Dance in London, Ontario and later on at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Before attending the Royal Winnipeg, though, Miss Hart auditioned for The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. She was accepted for its preliminary intensive summer session of auditioning for consideration as a student in the year's intensive academic/professional training program at the distinguished National Ballet School, where students train for its parent company the National Ballet of Canada
. Unfortunately, Miss Hart did not secure a place for the entire school year at the prestigious National Ballet School of Canada, mostly due to her problems with anorexia nervosa. Miss Hart battled with this pathological eating disorder before returning to ballet, training again, and winning a place for herself at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company in 1976, was promoted to soloist in 1978, and to principal dancer in 1979, only three years after she joined.
She was the first Canadian to win gold at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Varna
, Bulgaria
in 1980. The National Ballet of Canada's Martine Van Hamel had already won this same prize in 1966, but although she trained at The National Ballet School of Canada, Miss Hamel was born in Belgium to Dutch parents.
In 2005 Hart left the RWB to dance as a freelance artist. On August 23, 2006 she danced her swan song
at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. She danced as a guest artist with Toronto's ProArteDanza ending a thirty year career.
and was promoted to Companion in 1994. In 2000 she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame
. In 2006, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
. She was made a Member of the Order of Manitoba
in 2006.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OM
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
, FRSC (born April 4, 1956) is a Canadian
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...
ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
and former principal dancer with 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....
.
Born 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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, she studied dance at the Dorothy Carter School of Dance in London, Ontario and later on at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Before attending the Royal Winnipeg, though, Miss Hart auditioned for The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. She was accepted for its preliminary intensive summer session of auditioning for consideration as a student in the year's intensive academic/professional training program at the distinguished National Ballet School, where students train for its parent company 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...
. Unfortunately, Miss Hart did not secure a place for the entire school year at the prestigious National Ballet School of Canada, mostly due to her problems with anorexia nervosa. Miss Hart battled with this pathological eating disorder before returning to ballet, training again, and winning a place for herself at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company in 1976, was promoted to soloist in 1978, and to principal dancer in 1979, only three years after she joined.
She was the first Canadian to win gold at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in 1980. The National Ballet of Canada's Martine Van Hamel had already won this same prize in 1966, but although she trained at The National Ballet School of Canada, Miss Hamel was born in Belgium to Dutch parents.
In 2005 Hart left the RWB to dance as a freelance artist. On August 23, 2006 she danced her swan song
Swan song
"Swan song" is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely silent during its lifetime until the moment just before death, when it sings one beautiful song...
at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. She danced as a guest artist with Toronto's ProArteDanza ending a thirty year career.
Honours
In 1983 she was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 1994. In 2000 she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame
Canada's Walk of Fame
Canada's Walk of Fame , located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of successful Canadians...
. In 2006, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. She was made a Member of the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
in 2006.