Ted Patterson

honour roll inductee

Biography

In 1953, Ted Patterson came to Winnipeg from Edmonton to train with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet on a scholarship granted by RWB founder Gweneth Lloyd.

In 1955, Mr. Patterson joined the RWB Company’s corps de ballet and was promoted to soloist in 1958. During this time, he spent his summers performing at Rainbow Stage. He later joined its Board of Directors. In the Spring of 1962, after an accident performing The Bitter Weird on tour, Ted had knee surgery and retired from dancing.  He studied hairdressing and started working at Eaton’s.

The School of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet was started in the Fall of 1962 under the direction of Arnold Spohr with Jean Mckenzie as the Principal. In the Summer of 1964, Mr. Patterson was approached by Arnold Spohr to direct and help teach the newly established Scholarship Programme for the School of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Mr. Patterson taught ballet classes, repertoire, and National Dances, as well as Jazz and modern classes.

In 1970 Mr. Patterson left the RWB and started at CBC as Head of the Wardrobe Department and Costume Designer. In 1985 the CBC Design Department was eliminated in Winnipeg and Mr. Patterson became an Associate Producer and Director. During this time at CBC, Ted continued to have RWB season tickets and maintained contact with the Company.

After the 50th Anniversary of the Company in 1989 a group of dancers and staff decided to get together and, in 1991, they started the Alumni Association of the RWB.  Mr. Patterson was one of the original members.

He was instrumental in the development of the RWB Archives and sometimes put in more than 350 hours of volunteer work in the Archives a year. With the exception of Studios 204 and 405, the placement of the posters hanging on the studio walls at 380 Graham were designed by Mr. Patterson. He also served on the Executive of the Alumni Association, but retired in 2019.

Mr. Patterson was inducted into the Rainbow Stage Wall of Fame in 2006.