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Artistic Director
alewis@rwb.org
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Music Director and Conductor |
Associate Music Director/
Principal Pianist |
Ballet Master |
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“The remarkable dance talents of Zhang Wei-Qiang as Dracula in many ways anchor this production. The role suits him like a black silk cape—his natural elegance and impeccable line are matched by an understated charisma, a hint of sharp cruelty, a stage presence that, though rarely seen, suggests Dracula’s dark powers.”
– Edmonton Journal, 1999
“Wei-Qiang seems to defy gravity with his leaps and spins. Instead of returning rapidly to the ground like most mere mortals would, he seems to float through the air in slow motion.
– Winnipeg Free Press, 1999
Johnny W. Chang, formerly Zhang Wei-Qiang, from the People's Republic of China, joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as principal dancer in January 1992. For the company’s 1999/2000 season he became a Resident Guest Artist in order to devote more time to international guest appearances. Before joining the RWB, Johnny was a freelance guest artist in Japan and Asia for five years. Formerly a principal dancer with the Central Ballet of China, Johnny toured with the Central Ballet throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. Previous to joining the Central Ballet in 1984, Johnny was a Principal Dancer with the Beijing Dance Academy Ballet Company from 1981-84. He also trained there, graduating with top honours in 1979. Johnny also attended summer classes in the United States with the Houston Ballet Academy in Texas.
Johnny has won national and international medals for dance excellence, including a Bronze medal from the 2nd International Ballet Competition in Jackson, U.S.A (1982), Second Prize from the 4th World Ballet Competition in Osaka, Japan (1984), a Bronze medal from the 5th Moscow International Ballet Competition (1985) and the Highest Honour Award from the 1st National Ballet Competition in Beijing, China (1985).
Johnny has been a guest dancer on tour and home performances for the Houston Ballet, Japan's Star Dancers Ballet and the Asami Maki Ballet Company, the Universal Ballet Company of Korea, The Hong Kong Ballet and the Goh Ballet in Canada. Johnny has also appeared as Guest Artist at numerous festivals and galas, including a gala performance in memory of Anton Dolin in London, England (1984), the 2nd International Ballet Competition Gala in Paris (1986), the 3rd Aoyama Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Japan (1988), the gala performance in memory of the Prix de Lausanne in Tokyo, Japan (1989), and the 6th, 7th and 8th Japan Ballet Festival in Tokyo (1989, 1991 & 1992). In 1993, Johnny and Prima Ballerina Evelyn Hart travelled to Korea to perform the lead roles in Giselle with Korea's Universal Ballet as Canada's contribution to Expo ‘93.
The principal roles in Johnny’s repertoire have included Giselle, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Raymonda, La Fille Mal Gardée, Coppélia, La Sylphide, Les Sylphides, Antony Tudor's The Leaves are Fading, Jerome Robbins' The Afternoon of the Faun, George Balanchine's Scotch Symphony, Allegro Brillante, Square Dance, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Four Temperaments, Rudi van Dantzig's Romeo and Juliet and Four Last Songs, Mark Godden's Dracula and Miroirs, Shaun Hounsell’s Creaturehood and Nina Menon’s Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.
During the summer of 1996, Johnny was Ballet Master for the Seoul Ballet Theatre and toured with them to Italy. For the 1998/1999 season he joined the company as its Resident Guest Teacher.
For the 2001/2002 season Johnny was appointed Ballet Master with the RWB’s Artistic Staff, while continuing to perform as Resident Guest Artist. The season featured him in the role of ‘Albrecht’ in Giselle and ‘Prince Désiré’ in The Sleeping Beauty and concluded with his retirement from performance with Journey, created especially for him by choreographer Ben Stevenson.
Johnny will continue to be Ballet Master on a full-time basis.
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