National Ballet of Canada
Encyclopedia
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 ballet companies in Canada.
headed by Gweneth Lloyd and the Volkoff Canadian Ballet founded by Boris Volkoff and based in Toronto. Although both of these companies were well renowned, they were biased in their selection of dancers and often held auditions in their founding cities. With a desire to create an unbiased Canadian ballet troupe, and inspired by the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet
, a group of ballet enthusiasts set out to create the National Ballet of Canada. Both Lloyd and Volkoff were interested in being the first artistic director of the company, but organisers feared that these two people might ruin the company and its mandate. Instead, it was agreed by the organisers that the only way to create a truly unbiased ballet company was to hire an outsider named Celia Franca as artistic director.
Franca had been to Canada twice in her life, and would not have the same biases a Canadian would in selecting dancers for the company. Furthermore, she had many connections within the dance community and be able to expand the company’s influence on the international stage. However, she was not interested in heading this new company. She had refused similar invitations in Australia
and South Africa
and liked living in the United Kingdom
. Nevertheless, when she came to Canada in 1951, she was begged by the founders to accept their invitation. Franca accepted the job and became the first artistic director, while Volkoff would be the Resident Choreographer and Lloyd would be the Artistic Consultant and Choreographer.
Conductor George Crum would take on the role of conductor, as well as musical director.
In August 1951 The National Ballet of Canada launched its first cross-country audition tour. By the end of the month, the ballet troupe had chosen 29 dancers and was rehearsing for their first performance in the St. Lawrence Hall
. It was during these rehearsals that major decisions for the future of the ballet company happened. For example, Franca chose to perform classic ballets, as she believed this would allow the dancers to be properly judged by the international dance community.
The National Ballet of Canada's first performance was in the Eaton Auditorium
on November 12, 1951.
The program included Les Sylphides
and Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
.
, now the Sony Centre) in Toronto as its home venue. The company has recently moved again (2006) to new facilities, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
.
In 1976 Alexander Grant, former Principal Dancer with London's Royal Ballet
and Artistic Director of Ballet for All, became the Artistic Director of The National. Under his leadership, The National Ballet added many works by Frederick Ashton
to its repertoire. The National has historically been viewed by many as very similar in training, technique, and style to The Royal Ballet of England.
The National Ballet of Canada was the first Canadian company to perform at the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden, London in 1979.
In 2011, the company premiered a choreography of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet
by Alexei Ratmansky
.
. The primary goal of the school is to train dancers for the National Ballet of Canada and also for companies across Canada and around the world. Graduates of the School include Frank Augustyn, Neve Campbell, Rex Harrington, Karen Kain (current Artistic Director of the Company), James Kudelka (former Artistic Director of the Company), Veronica Tennant, Martine Lamy, John Alleyne, Emmanuel Sandhu, and Mavis Staines (now head of the school).
danced with the company in 1965 and returned in 1972 to stage his version of The Sleeping Beauty. His work is credited to raising the standards of the company. He was responsible for bringing the Company to Lincoln Center
's Metropolitan Opera House
in New York City
where he showcased the company. The Ballet met with rave reviews and this was a pivotal point in receiving recognition internationally. It was at this time that the careers of Karen Kain
and Frank Augustyn
, two members of NBC, took off. Kain and Augustyn received the prize for best pas de deux
at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow in 1973. The following year, in 1974, while on a tour in Canada, Mikhail Baryshnikov
defected and requested political asylum in Toronto. His first performance after coming out of temporary seclusion in Canada was with the National Ballet of Canada in a televised version of La Sylphide
.
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...
's largest ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca
Celia Franca
Celia Franca, was the founder of The National Ballet of Canada and its artistic director for 24 years ....
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 ballet companies in Canada.
Creation of The National Ballet of Canada and its School
In 1951, the two major ballet companies in Canada were 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....
headed by Gweneth Lloyd and the Volkoff Canadian Ballet founded by Boris Volkoff and based in Toronto. Although both of these companies were well renowned, they were biased in their selection of dancers and often held auditions in their founding cities. With a desire to create an unbiased Canadian ballet troupe, and inspired by the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet, London
The Royal Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the four major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, it became the resident ballet...
, a group of ballet enthusiasts set out to create the National Ballet of Canada. Both Lloyd and Volkoff were interested in being the first artistic director of the company, but organisers feared that these two people might ruin the company and its mandate. Instead, it was agreed by the organisers that the only way to create a truly unbiased ballet company was to hire an outsider named Celia Franca as artistic director.
Franca had been to Canada twice in her life, and would not have the same biases a Canadian would in selecting dancers for the company. Furthermore, she had many connections within the dance community and be able to expand the company’s influence on the international stage. However, she was not interested in heading this new company. She had refused similar invitations in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and liked living in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Nevertheless, when she came to Canada in 1951, she was begged by the founders to accept their invitation. Franca accepted the job and became the first artistic director, while Volkoff would be the Resident Choreographer and Lloyd would be the Artistic Consultant and Choreographer.
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
Conductor George Crum would take on the role of conductor, as well as musical director.
In August 1951 The National Ballet of Canada launched its first cross-country audition tour. By the end of the month, the ballet troupe had chosen 29 dancers and was rehearsing for their first performance in the St. Lawrence Hall
St. Lawrence Hall
St. Lawrence Hall is a meeting hall in Toronto, Canada next to the St. Lawrence Market. It was built, alongside the new city hall, in 1850 after an 1849 fire destroyed much of the market. The Renaissance Revival style building was designed by William Thomas. It was created to be Toronto's public...
. It was during these rehearsals that major decisions for the future of the ballet company happened. For example, Franca chose to perform classic ballets, as she believed this would allow the dancers to be properly judged by the international dance community.
The National Ballet of Canada's first performance was in the Eaton Auditorium
The Carlu (Toronto)
The Carlu is an historic event space in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Known for many years as the "Eaton's Seventh Floor", the Carlu is one of Toronto's best examples of Art Moderne architecture.-History:...
on November 12, 1951.
The program included Les Sylphides
Les Sylphides
Les Sylphides is a short, non-narrative ballet blanc. Its original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with music by Frédéric Chopin orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov. Glazunov had already set some of the music in 1892 as a purely orchestral suite, under the title Chopiniana, Op. 46...
and Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Prince Igor
Prince Igor is an opera in four acts with a prologue. It was composed by Alexander Borodin. The composer adapted the libretto from the East Slavic epic The Lay of Igor's Host, which recounts the campaign of Russian prince Igor Svyatoslavich against the invading Polovtsian tribes in 1185...
.
Development
In 1964 the National adopted the 3200-seat O'Keefe Centre (then Hummingbird CentreHummingbird Centre
The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts is a major performing arts venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-About the Centre:The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts is Canada’s largest soft-seat theatre...
, now the Sony Centre) in Toronto as its home venue. The company has recently moved again (2006) to new facilities, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Four Seasons Centre
The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is a 2,071-seat theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada which had its grand opening Wednesday, June 14, 2006. The first actual performance however, commenced in September 2006 with the first Canadian production of Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen...
.
In 1976 Alexander Grant, former Principal Dancer with London's Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet, London
The Royal Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the four major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, it became the resident ballet...
and Artistic Director of Ballet for All, became the Artistic Director of The National. Under his leadership, The National Ballet added many works by Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
to its repertoire. The National has historically been viewed by many as very similar in training, technique, and style to The Royal Ballet of England.
The National Ballet of Canada was the first Canadian company to perform at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden, London in 1979.
In 2011, the company premiered a choreography of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)
Romeo and Juliet is a ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It is one of the most enduringly popular ballets...
by Alexei Ratmansky
Alexei Ratmansky
Alexei Osipovich Ratmansky is a choreographer and former ballet dancer. He is artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre and the former director of the Bolshoi Ballet. Ratmansky trained under Pyotr Pestov and Anna Markeyeva at the Bolshoi Ballet School...
.
National Ballet School
The National Ballet School of Canada was founded in 1959 by Celia Franca and was directed for many years by co-founder Betty OliphantBetty Oliphant
Nancy Elizabeth "Betty" Oliphant, was a co-founder of the National Ballet School of Canada.Born in London, she suffered from pneumonia as a child and her doctor prescribed ballet lessons to help with her breathing. She studied with Tamara Karsavina, Laurent Novikoff and Marie Rambert...
. The primary goal of the school is to train dancers for the National Ballet of Canada and also for companies across Canada and around the world. Graduates of the School include Frank Augustyn, Neve Campbell, Rex Harrington, Karen Kain (current Artistic Director of the Company), James Kudelka (former Artistic Director of the Company), Veronica Tennant, Martine Lamy, John Alleyne, Emmanuel Sandhu, and Mavis Staines (now head of the school).
International Acclaim
Rudolf NureyevRudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
danced with the company in 1965 and returned in 1972 to stage his version of The Sleeping Beauty. His work is credited to raising the standards of the company. He was responsible for bringing the Company to Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
's Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center)
The Metropolitan Opera House is an opera house located on Broadway at Lincoln Square in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the theater opened in 1966. It replaced the former Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 39th St...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he showcased the company. The Ballet met with rave reviews and this was a pivotal point in receiving recognition internationally. It was at this time that the careers of Karen Kain
Karen Kain
Karen Alexandria Kain, CC is a retired Canadian ballet dancer, and currently the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada.-Early Training:...
and Frank Augustyn
Frank Augustyn
Frank Joseph Augustyn, OC is a Canadian ballet dancer and artistic director. He was principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada and the Berlin Opera Ballet. He was artistic director of the Ottawa Ballet, from 1989–1994....
, two members of NBC, took off. Kain and Augustyn received the prize for best pas de deux
Pas de deux
In ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable Pas de deux:...
at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow in 1973. The following year, in 1974, while on a tour in Canada, Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is a Soviet and American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974...
defected and requested political asylum in Toronto. His first performance after coming out of temporary seclusion in Canada was with the National Ballet of Canada in a televised version of La Sylphide
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
.
Principal Dancers
- Aleksandar Antonijevic
- Guillaume Côté
- Vanessa HarwoodVanessa HarwoodVanessa Clare Harwood, is a Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer, artistic director,teacher, and actor.Born in Cheltenham, England, Harwood was one of the first pupils at the The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto when it opened in 1959...
- Greta HodgkinsonGreta HodgkinsonGreta Hodgkinson is a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada.-Early life and training:Raised in Warwick, Rhode Island, Hodgkinson was active from an early age in ice skating, gymnastics and ballet...
- Jiri Jelinek
- Zdenek Konvalina
- Heather Ogden
- Sonia RodriguezSonia RodriguezSonia Rodriguez is a Canadian ballet dancer.Born in Toronto, Ontario, she moved to Madrid, Spain, at age five. Rodriguez received dance training there with Pedro de la Cruz and also at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco...
- Piotr Stanczyk
- Xiao Nan Yu
- Bridgett Zehr
Principal Character Artists
- Victoria Bertram
- Kevin D. Bowles
- Lorna Geddes
- Thomas Schramek
- Hazaros Surmeyan
First Soloists
- Keiichi Hirano
- Tanya Howard
- Stephanie Hutchison
- Richard Landry
- Etienne Lavigne
- Patrick Lavoie
- Stacey Shiori Minagawa
- Tina Pereira
- Jonathan Renna
- Rebekah Rimsay
- Jillian Vanstone
Second Soloists
- Alexandra Golden
- Elena Lobsanova
- Noah Long
- Alejandra Perez-Gomez
- Lisa Robinson
- Jenna Savella
- Robert StephenRobert StephenRobert Stephen is a Scottish professional snooker player from Glasgow, born 27 June 1984. He first qualified for the main tour for the 2006/2007 season having topped the Scottish rankings the year before. However he struggled with only two victories in the whole season and dropped off the main tour...
- Brett van Sickle
prominent National Ballet dancers
- Karen KainKaren KainKaren Alexandria Kain, CC is a retired Canadian ballet dancer, and currently the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada.-Early Training:...
- Frank AugustynFrank AugustynFrank Joseph Augustyn, OC is a Canadian ballet dancer and artistic director. He was principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada and the Berlin Opera Ballet. He was artistic director of the Ottawa Ballet, from 1989–1994....
- Tomas Schramek
- Veronica TennantVeronica TennantVeronica Tennant, CC, FRSC is a Canadian dance and performance film producer and director, and former ballet dancer.She was born in London, England and moved to Canada with her parents and sister in 1955...
- Martine Lamy
- Kimberley GlascoKimberley GlascoKimberley Glasco is a Canadian ballerina.In 1998, Glasco launched a wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada instigated because artistic director James Kudelka dropped her from the company roster, allegedly because Glasco had questioned the allocation of funds for Kudelka's...
- Margaret IllmannMargaret IllmannMargaret L. Illmann is an Australian prima ballerina with an international career.Born in Australia, she moved to Canada to work with the National Ballet of Canada. From there her career lead her to all mayor stages in the world...
- Nadia Potts
- Serge Lavoie
- Jeremy Ransom
- Rex HarringtonRex HarringtonRex Howard Harrington, OC, FRSC is a Canadian ballet dancer. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2005, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2006, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by York University and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada...
- Robert Tewsley
- Yseult Lendvai
- Sonia RodriguezSonia RodriguezSonia Rodriguez is a Canadian ballet dancer.Born in Toronto, Ontario, she moved to Madrid, Spain, at age five. Rodriguez received dance training there with Pedro de la Cruz and also at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco...
- Chan Hon GohChan Hon GohChan-hon Goh , born in 1969 in Beijing, China, was a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada....
- Aleksandar Antonijevic
- Greta HodgkinsonGreta HodgkinsonGreta Hodgkinson is a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada.-Early life and training:Raised in Warwick, Rhode Island, Hodgkinson was active from an early age in ice skating, gymnastics and ballet...
- Zdenek Konvalina
- Victoria Bertram