Rex Harrington
Encyclopedia
Rex Howard Harrington, OC
, FRSC
(born October 30, 1962 in Peterborough, Ontario
) 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
. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at the National Ballet of Canada, and is a Board member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre
.
in 1983 and became a principal dancer in 1988. He partnered with many renowned ballerinas such as Ekaterina Maximova
, Carla Fracci
, Karen Kain
, Veronica Tennant
, Alessandra Ferri
, Susan Jaffe and Evelyn Hart
. He has also performed with such companies as La Scala Theatre Ballet, San Francisco Ballet
, Royal Winnipeg Ballet
, and Stuttgart Ballet
. Harrington's classical roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (ballet), Basilio in Don Quixote (ballet)
, Kastchei in The Firebird
, Eugene Onegin in Onegin (ballet), and Apollo in Balanchine's Apollo (ballet)
. James Kudelka
created several roles on Harrington, including Rothbart in Swan Lake(1999), Peter/The Nutcracker in The Nutcracker (1995), and the central role in The Four Seasons(1997). Choreographer Glen Tetley
also created the roles of Lewis Carroll in Alice(1992) and The Young Gentleman in La Ronde(1988) on Harrington. Harrington retired from the stage in 2004, although he came out of retirement to dance the role of Prince Gremin in the National Ballet of Canada's 2010 production of Onegin (ballet).
's "The January Man
", as well as the film adaptation of "The Four Seasons", for which Rex won a Gemini Award in 2000. Harrington's television credits include CBC specials "Karen Kain: Dancing in the Moment", and "Wild Hearts in Strange Times" featuring dance artist Margie Gillis
. In 2002, Harrington made his musical theatre debut in "Robin Hood" at Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre. Harrington has also been a recurring guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance Canada
since Season 1.
Harrington and his partner Robert Hope are to marry in the summer of 2011.
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...
, FRSC
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...
(born October 30, 1962 in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
) is a Canadian 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...
dancer. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2005, he 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, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and 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...
. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at the National Ballet of Canada, and is a Board member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre
Dancer transition resource centre
Founded in 1985 by former ballerina Joysanne Sidimus, the Dancer Transition Resource Centre is a Canadian charity that provides counselling and retraining grants to dancers making career transitions...
.
Dance career
Harrington studied at Canada's National Ballet School. He joined the National Ballet of CanadaNational 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...
in 1983 and became a principal dancer in 1988. He partnered with many renowned ballerinas such as Ekaterina Maximova
Ekaterina Maximova
Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova was a Soviet and Russian ballerina of international renown.-Career:Maximova was born in Moscow, Soviet Union. An artist who combined great technical prowess with piquant prettiness, Maximova enjoyed her greatest successes in Giselle, Don Quixote, Cinderella and The...
, Carla Fracci
Carla Fracci
Carla Fracci is a ballet dancer and actress. Her career highlights include Nijinsky, Giselle , Complete Bell Telephone Hour Performances: Erik Bruhn 1961-1967.-FAO Ambassador:...
, 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:...
, Veronica Tennant
Veronica Tennant
Veronica 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...
, Alessandra Ferri
Alessandra Ferri
Alessandra Ferri is a retired Italian prima ballerina assoluta. She received her training at the La Scala Theatre Ballet School and the Royal Ballet School...
, Susan Jaffe and Evelyn Hart
Evelyn Hart
Evelyn Anne Hart, CC, OM, FRSC 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...
. He has also performed with such companies as La Scala Theatre Ballet, San Francisco Ballet
San Francisco Ballet
The San Francisco Ballet is a ballet company, founded in 1933 as the San Francisco Opera Ballet. The company is currently based in the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, under the direction of Helgi Tomasson. SFB is the first professional ballet company in the United States...
, 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....
, and Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet was the first major German ballet company. It rose to fame in the 1960s under Artistic Director John Cranko. The company, which is renowned for presentations of full-length narrative ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Eugene Onegin, The Taming of the Shrew, John Neumeier's Die...
. Harrington's classical roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (ballet), Basilio in Don Quixote (ballet)
Don Quixote (ballet)
Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the...
, Kastchei in The Firebird
The Firebird
The Firebird is a 1910 ballet created by the composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Michel Fokine. The ballet is based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird of the same name that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor....
, Eugene Onegin in Onegin (ballet), and Apollo in Balanchine's Apollo (ballet)
Apollo (ballet)
Apollo is a ballet in two tableaux composed between 1927 and 1928 by Igor Stravinsky. It was choreographed by balletmaster George Balanchine in 1928, the composer contributing the libretto...
. James Kudelka
James Kudelka
James Kudelka, OC, , is a choreographer, dancer, and director. He was the artistic director for the National Ballet of Canada from 1996 to 2005, now serving as the National Ballet's artist in residence....
created several roles on Harrington, including Rothbart in Swan Lake(1999), Peter/The Nutcracker in The Nutcracker (1995), and the central role in The Four Seasons(1997). Choreographer Glen Tetley
Glen Tetley
Glen Tetley was an American ballet and modern dancer as well as a choreographer who mixed ballet and modern dance to create a new way of looking at dance, and is best known for his piece Pierrot Lunaire.-Biography:Glenford Andrew Tetley, Jr. was born on February 3, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio...
also created the roles of Lewis Carroll in Alice(1992) and The Young Gentleman in La Ronde(1988) on Harrington. Harrington retired from the stage in 2004, although he came out of retirement to dance the role of Prince Gremin in the National Ballet of Canada's 2010 production of Onegin (ballet).
Film, Television and Theatre
Harrington has appeared in Norman JewisonNorman Jewison
Norman Frederick Jewison, CC, O.Ont is a Canadian film director, producer, actor and founder of the Canadian Film Centre. Highlights of his directing career include In the Heat of the Night , The Thomas Crown Affair , Fiddler on the Roof , Jesus Christ Superstar , Moonstruck , The Hurricane and The...
's "The January Man
The January Man
The January Man is a 1989 comedy/thriller film. It was directed by Pat O'Connor from a screenplay by John Patrick Shanley. The film stars Kevin Kline as Nick Starkey, a smart ex-New York City police detective who is lured back into service by his police commissioner brother when a serial killer...
", as well as the film adaptation of "The Four Seasons", for which Rex won a Gemini Award in 2000. Harrington's television credits include CBC specials "Karen Kain: Dancing in the Moment", and "Wild Hearts in Strange Times" featuring dance artist Margie Gillis
Margie Gillis
Margie Gillis, CM, CQ is a Canadian solo dancer and choreographer whose most commonly known dance style is modern.Born in Acton Vale, Quebec, the daughter of Gene Gillis, an Olympic skier, and Rhona Wurtele, a Canadian Olympic skier. Her brother, Jere Gillis played professional hockey...
. In 2002, Harrington made his musical theatre debut in "Robin Hood" at Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre. Harrington has also been a recurring guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance Canada
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
So You Think You Can Dance Canada was a dance competition and reality show that aired on CTV.Based on the original American TV show So You Think You Can Dance, the Canadian series showcased the best in Canadian dancing talent. Each season, the show held auditions in major cities across the...
since Season 1.
Advocacy
Harrington's mother, who first encouraged him to dance, has schizophrenia. He has spoken out against the stigma attached to mental illness, most notably through the "Transforming Lives" campaign of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.Harrington and his partner Robert Hope are to marry in the summer of 2011.
External links
- Rex Howard Harrington at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
- "Behind the tutu", Xtra!Xtra!Xtra! is a gay magazine, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History and content :...
, November 25, 2004.