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Artistic Director
alewis@rwb.org |
Music Director and Conductor |
Associate Music Director/
Principal Pianist |
Ballet Master |
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On March 7, 1996, André Lewis was named Artistic Director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. It was the fulfilment of a more than two decade long association with the RWB. He entered the RWB School in 1975 and the company in 1979. In 1984, André was asked to become a member of the RWB’s artistic staff, was named Associate Artistic Director in 1990 and was appointed Interim Artistic Director in November of 1995.
RWB founders Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farally believed the arts to bean essential part of everyday life and that the company repertoire should engage a wide range of audiences. This philosophy fits Lewis like a glove. In 1999, the Daily Hampshire Gazette wrote that the RWB achieves, “…a fine balance between the classical traditions of Europe and the boldness of contemporary ballet, which in turn has produced a style unique to itself.”
In a recent interview with a Victoria magazine, Mr. Lewis said: “The ability to reach beyond the floodlights and connect with an audience has long been an attribute of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. The audience gets a chance to live vicariously, to feel the drama of another person’s life in a very personal and powerful way.”
Since his appointment as director Lewis has revitalized the company’s repertoire. In 1998, he commissioned Mark Godden’s blockbuster production of Dracula (“…an original, made-in-Canada, full-length story ballet that combines wit, intelligence, theatricality and fine dancing in one entertaining package.” – CBC Arts Report) and was instrumental in the 1999 creation of a new Nutcracker for the company. In 2001, he commissioned a new version of The Sleeping Beauty and in October 2002, he added André Prokovsky’s Anna Karenina. Lewis has also brought in George Balanchine’s classic Serenade and commissioned the creation of Nina Menon’s The Gitagovinda and Mark Godden’s As Above, So Below. The RWB was also instrumental in the creation of Brian Macdonald’s Requiem 9/11 project in memory of the September 11th tragedy. For the 2003/04 season, Lewis has asked choreographer Mark Godden to create a new ballet based on the opera, The Magic Flute.
Born in Hull, Québec, André began his ballet training at the Classical Ballet Studio in Ottawa. At the Professional Division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Lewis completed his ballet training under the direction of David Moroni. He joined the Company as a corps de ballet member and was promoted to soloist in 1982.
During his career, André has worked with many eminent teachers and coaches including Galina Yordanova, Rudi van Dantzig, Jirí Kylián, Dame Alicia Markova and Agnes de Mille. As a dancer, André was well known for his strength as a soloist and as a partner. His roles included Lento A Tempo E Appassionatto, Song of a Wayfarer, Nuages, ‘Gunther’ in Nutcracker, ‘Romeo’ and ‘Mercutio’ in Romeo and Juliet and ‘Jamie Paul’ in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe.
André appeared as a guest artist throughout North America, the Orient and the USSR, and at such prestigious events as the opening Gala performance of the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, Le Don Des Etoiles in Montreal, a special gala honouring Queen Beatrix of Holland and at a gala performance in Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow. André’s television and film credits include Romeo and Juliet (CBC), Firebird (Greece National Television), The Big Top (CBC/PRIMEDIA) and Belong Pas de Deux (IMAX). Mr. Lewis has travelled to Italy, France, Japan, Germany and Greece to teach and to coach.
André makes his home in Winnipeg with his wife, former Company dancer Caroline Gruber, and their two young children, Émilie and Daniel.
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