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Royal Winnipeg Ballet

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The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America.[1][2]

Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Front view of a large theatre venue.
Centennial Concert Hall, principal performance venue of the RWB
General information
NameRoyal Winnipeg Ballet
Previous names
  • Winnipeg Ballet
  • Winnipeg Ballet Club
Year founded1939
Founding choreographersGweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally
Location380 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 4K2
Principal venueCentennial Concert Hall
Websitewww.rwb.org
Senior staff
Executive DirectorElena Tupyseva
Company managerChris Turyk
Artistic staff
Artistic DirectorAndré Lewis
Deputy DirectorTara Birtwhistle
Ballet MastersJohnny Chang (Zhang-Wei Qiang), Jaime Vargas
Ballet Mistress
  • Vanessa Lawson
  • Caroline Gruber
Principal ConductorJulian Pellicano
Other
OrchestraWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Official schoolRoyal Winnipeg Ballet School
Formation
  • Principal
  • First Soloist
  • Second Soloist
  • Corps de Ballet
  • Apprentice
  • Aspirant

History

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From left to right: Amanda Green, Yosuke Mino, and Vanessa Lawson

It was founded in 1939 as the "Winnipeg Ballet Club" by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally (who also founded the ballet school The Canadian School of Ballet in British Columbia). The name was changed to the "Winnipeg Ballet" in 1941 and the company began touring Canada in 1945. In 1948, with the initiative of the Winnipeg Ballet, the Canadian Ballet Festival was formed.

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet was granted its royal title in 1953, the first granted under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It completed its first American tour in 1954. In June that year the RWB's rented premises were devastated by fire; the company's entire stock of costumes, original music, choreographic scores and sets were destroyed. Conductor Eric Wild served as the company's music director from 1955 to 1962.

The company solidified its reputation under the artistic directorship of Saskatchewan-born Arnold Spohr from 1958 to 1988. Spohr, who first joined the company as a dancer in 1945, during his tenure maintained a strong focus on developing Canadian talent, and, at the same time, he developed the RWB as an international touring company, and actively engaged with choreographers and dancers from around the world to expand the ballet.[3]

Spohr was succeeded by RWB principal dancer Henny Jurriëns who was formerly assistant to Dutch National Ballet director Rudi van Dantzig.[4] Jurriëns, however, died in a car accident in April 1989.[4] In 1990 John Meehan from American Ballet Theatre became artistic director but left in 1993 following the company's persistent financial difficulties.[4] William Whitener, formerly the artistic director of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, was chosen to succeed Meehan. Continuing financial problems and dancer "unrest", Whitener was released in less than two years later.[4]

André Lewis was appointed in 1996 as artistic director. Lewis' decades-long association with the RWB began in 1975 when he was accepted into the Professional Division at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. In 1979, he was joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company and performed as a dancer with the RWB until 1990. Lewis' roles include: Gunther in Nutcracker; Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet; and Jamie Paul in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe.[5] Company Music Director and Conductor is Tad Biernacki and Senior Ballet Master is Johnny W. Chang.

In 1981 the company participated alongside the National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, le Groupe de la Place Royale, the Danny Grossman Dance Company, the Toronto Dance Theatre, Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers and the Anna Wyman Dance Theatre in the Canadian Dance Spectacular,[6] a dance show at Ottawa's National Arts Centre which was filmed by the National Film Board of Canada for the 1982 documentary film Gala.[7]

The dancer most associated with the RWB has been Evelyn Hart; it also included many other notable dancers including Mikhail Baryshnikov. Born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1956, Hart made her professional debut with the RWB in 1976. In 1980, she was awarded the bronze medal at the World Ballet Concours in Japan, and the gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition where she also received the Exceptional Artistic Achievement Award. Both medals were awarded for her performance of Belong pas de deux, created by internationally acclaimed choreographer Norbert Vesak as part of his work What To Do Till the Messiah Comes. Hart was awarded the Order of Canada in 1983. She left the RWB in 2005. David Peregrine, Hart's long-time partner, joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as a member of the corps in 1975 and became a soloist three years later and principal dancer in 1980; that year the pair both performed in Varna. Peregrine was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1986.[8]

Other Honorable mentions for dancers include principal Laura Graham, who was awarded a Silver medal at the 14th Varna International Ballet Competition in 1990. Her team included principal Steven Hyde, receiving a best non-competing partner honor, and soloist Mark Godden receiving best new choreography for 'Myth'. Principal dancer Suzanne Rubio followed in 1991 winning a Bronze medal at the 2nd Helsinki International Ballet Competition.

In 1992, Gweneth Lloyd, co-founder of the company, became the first recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.[9]

The company spends 20 or more weeks a year on the road, presenting more than 100 performances every year in both large and small centres. The company also mounts four productions a year in Winnipeg's performing arts venue, the Centennial Concert Hall.

Royal Winnipeg Ballet School

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Royal Winnipeg Ballet building, 380 Graham Avenue

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School is composed of two divisions, Recreational and Professional, and is home to the more than 1,500 students annually.[10] The current building opened in January 1988, and features 12 spacious, sprung-floor studios, and a 224-seat performance space.[11]

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Recreational Division provides training and instruction to students age 3+ in various disciplines including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Modern, Creative Movement and Hip Hop.[12] The Recreational Division features an audition-only competitive Dance Ensemble program for high level Junior to Senior students. The school also offers an Intensive Training Program for students who have shown ability and dedication for more intense, specialized training in classical ballet. In this program, numerous ballet classes are supported with additional classes such as pointe, RWB School Dance Ensemble performance groups, conditioning and modern. Students are prepared using the Cecchetti method for classical ballet exams.[13]

Alumni have gone onto careers on Broadway, Rainbow Stage and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and have continued their education with Arts Umbrella, Goh Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Boston Conservatory and the School of Contemporary Dancers. Students work closely with RWB School Artistic faculty, including award-winning choreographers, and perform new works in festivals and competitions.[13]

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Professional Division is an exclusive, full-time classical ballet training program for students in grades 6 through 12. The school includes approximately 72 young dancers, selected from around the world, and graduates have international careers in top companies in Canada and abroad. The Professional Division instructs students using the Vaganova method of ballet.

David Lee Moroni, a former principal dancer with the RWB, headed the company's professional training program from 1970 to 2003.[14] Moroni's notable students included: Evelyn Hart, David Peregrine, André Lewis, Tara Birtwhistle, and Jennifer Welsman. In 1990 Moroni received the Order of Canada.[15]

From 2003 until 2016, Arlene Minkhorst was Director of the school; in 2016, Stéphane Léonard assumed the role. Since 2015, Suzanne André has been the Principal of the Professional Division, and since 2016, Nicole Kepp has been the Principal of the Recreational Division.

Choreography

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In 2002, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet's interpretation of the story of Dracula, choreographed by Mark Godden, was filmed in a made for television titled Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary directed by Guy Maddin. The film was later released theatrically. Godden, who became the RWB's first choreographer in residence in 1991, has created several other major works for the company, including: Angels in the Architecture; Dame Aux Fruits; A Darkness Between Us; Shepherd's Wake; and Svengali

Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet is the first organization to present a theatrical or dance production of the works of Leonard Cohen. During the RWB tenure of Artistic Director Arnold Spohr (1958–1988), in Summer 1970, Brian Macdonald choreographed The Shining People of Leonard Cohen which debuted in Paris. That July, it was staged at Canada's National Arts Centre in Ottawa – with eclectic band Lighthouse opening the show.[16]

In 2002, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet commissioned American choreographer Val Caniparoli for the first full-length ballet, entitled Val Caniparoli's A Cinderella Story[17] using the music of composer Richard Rodgers. "The story was familiar, yet original; the choreography sleek, yet classical; the music, a fresh-sounding amalgam of jazz riffs and swirls, based on the themes of one vintage composer. And it is the belle of the ball".[18]

In May 2012, the company presented the World Premiere of The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen, a contemporary dance piece based on the words and music of Cohen, choreographed by Jorden Morris. Morris' previous works for the RWB include the highly successful full-length classical ballet Peter Pan (2006) and Moulin Rouge - The Ballet (2009 premiere). In this newest ballet, consisting of five vignettes, Cohen's recorded songs and interviews blend with live music. Hallelujah is performed by musician Allison Crowe (voice and piano) and dancers Sophia Lee and Jo-Ann Sundermeier alternating dates.[19] In November 2012 the RWB toured The Doorway to great acclaim with three live song performances by Crowe.[20][21]

Dancers

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See also: Category:Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancers

Dancers in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's 2023-2024 season include:[22]

Principals

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  •   Elizabeth Lamont
  •   Alanna McAdie

Soloists

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  •   Stephan Azulay
  •   Yayoi Ban
  •   Jaimi Deleau
  •   Peter Lancksweerdt
  •   Michel Lavoie

Second Soloists

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  •   Katie Bonnell
  •   Marco Lo Presti
  •   Liam Saito
  •   Katie Simpson

Corps de Ballet

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  •   Jenna Burns
  •   Cleighden Butler
  •   Julianna Generoux
  •   Joshua Hidson
  •   Tymin Keown
  •   Emilie Lewis
  •   Parker Long
  •   Logan Savard
  •   Amanda Solheim
  •   Kyra Soo
  •   Brooke Thomas
  •   Maggie Weatherdon

Apprentices

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  •   Felix Jinga
  •   Myles Mackesy
  •   Rafe Perry
  •   Taisi Tollasepp

See also

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References

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  1. ^ JENNIFER GOLDBERG. "10 Attractions That Make Canada Great". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Harper Government Commemorates National Historic Significance of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet". Government of Canada. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Arnold Spohr, 86, Leader Of Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Obituary", The New York Times, 22 April 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Katherine Cornell; Max Wyman (3 April 2015). "Royal Winnipeg Ballet". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. ^ Michael Bennett (30 September 1972). "Western Canada:Activity abounds on all fronts". Billboard. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ Stephen Godfrey, "Dance Spectacular is just that". The Globe and Mail, May 30, 1981.
  7. ^ Stephen Godfrey, "Gala: a dance milestone makes a fascinating film". The Globe and Mail, May 1, 1982.
  8. ^ David Peregrine, Order of Canada[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Governor General's Performing Arts Awards: Homegrown heroes", The Ottawa Citizen, 2 May 2012[permanent dead link‍]. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  10. ^ "School". Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Campus & Facilities". Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Recreational Division". Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Auditions". Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  14. ^ Moroni gala planned[permanent dead link‍], Excerpt from Winnipeg Free Press, 19 May 2004
  15. ^ Order of Canada citation
  16. ^ "Winnipeg Ballet draws the young: With Lighthouse's help", The Montreal Gazette, 29 July 1970. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  17. ^ "RWB star Wright retiring 'on high note'". Winnipeg Free Press. 23 June 2007.
  18. ^ "Rodgers and Hammerstein". Latest News. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Leonard Cohen's music comes to life at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet", CBC News, 9 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  20. ^ "RWB technique, emotion dazzle in Halifax return", Chronicle Herald, 8 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  21. ^ "A royal treat", The Guardian, 16 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Dancers". Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
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