Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Arriving at the RWB School in 2006 at the age of 14 from Langley, BC, Sophia graduated from the Professional Division Ballet Academic Program in June 2010. During her time in the School, Sophia was the recipient of several scholarships, including the Arnold Spohr Scholarship in 2008 and the prestigious Prince Edward Award in 2009. She spent one year in the RWB Aspirant Program and was promoted to member of the Corps de Ballet for the 2011-2012 season. We asked Sophia to speak about her first week with The Company.

Since I found out that I will be joining the RWB Company, I have been so thrilled and just couldn't wait until the season started! True.. trying to learn Wonderland from a DVD in my living room was not so fun for most days but I knew that that was going to be a big part of my life starting then! My first day with the company was just this past Monday when the rest of the company had their first day back as well. I was a bit nervous but starting the day with Tara's great class gave me a good feeling about it! Read more »

Former Principal Dancer, Tara Birtwhistle & Mrs. Asper

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Mrs. Babs Asper, a dear friend to us and a champion of the Winnipeg arts community.

A longtime member of RWB’s Patrons’ Circle, Mrs. Asper was a true supporter of our efforts to create and perform new works to audiences at home and abroad. Mrs. Asper made a significant personal donation to RWB’s Creations Endowment Fund which supports the creation of new ballets, and she was instrumental in The Asper Foundation’s tremendous support as Production Benefactor of A Cinderella Story, a full-length ballet with prominent jazz elements created to launch the RWB’s 65^th anniversary in 2004.

In 2010, The Asper Foundation was the lead sponsor of the RWB’s 70^th anniversary tour to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Mrs. Asper had planned to attend the tour’s opening night performance in Tel Aviv, but was held back by an injury a few weeks prior.

The generous and dedicated support of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet over the years by Mrs. Asper, the Asper family and The Asper Foundation has helped ensure the RWB will continue to create and perform outstanding ballet for audiences throughout the world for decades to come. For all of us at the RWB, this will be Babs Asper’s valuable legacy.

PHOTO CREDIT: RHEO CATT