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Versatility, technical excellence and a captivating style are the trademarks of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim. These qualities keep the RWB in demand as it presents more than 100 performances every season.
Founded in 1939 by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the double distinction of being Canada’s premier ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. In 1953, the Company received its royal title, the first granted under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1958, Arnold Spohr was appointed artistic director. Under his direction the Royal Winnipeg Ballet grew and developed to take its place among the world’s internationally renowned companies. To further the Company’s development, a professional school was created in 1970 under the direction of David Moroni. Today two-thirds of the Company’s dancers are graduates of the School.
In 1988, Mr. Spohr turned his position over to Henny Jurriens. Tragically, Jurriens and his wife lost their lives in an automobile accident on April 9, 1989. On February 2, 1990, during the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s 50th anniversary season, John Meehan, former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, was appointed artistic director. Mr. Meehan resigned during the 1992/93 season to return to his home in New York. Former Joffrey Ballet and Twyla Tharp dancer William Whitener served as artistic director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet from 1993 to 1995.
On March 7, 1996, André Lewis was named Artistic Director of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. A native of Hull, Quebec, Mr. Lewis has maintained a more than thirty year association with the RWB. During his tenure as Artistic Director, Lewis has worked to revitalise the company’s repertoire, especially with the commissioning of new full-length ballets such as Dracula and Nutcracker.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet began to tour Canada in 1945; it completed its first American tour in 1954. Today, the Company spends 20 or more weeks a year on the road, performing in centres large and small. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is compact in size, with 24 dancers, a production crew of seven and a semi-trailer that carries approximately 55,000 pounds of equipment. For full-length ballets, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet travels with two semi-trailers and an expanded company. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet has performed in the United States, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Japan, Asia, Mexico and in every province of Canada.
Throughout its history, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet has been a dance leader, recording innumerable firsts. It developed the concept of the regional ballet festival in the 1940s. It was the first Western company to perform in Cuba after the revolution. It received Gold Medals at the International Ballet Festival in Paris in 1968 and that same year became the first Canadian company to tour Russia and Czechoslovakia.
The RWB’s 68th season began in October with the world premiere of Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmen, The Passion. This is the first original work for the RWB from the choreographer who created Carmina Burana and The Messiah. In December, our holiday classic, Nutcracker returned with seven performances in both Ottawa and Winnipeg. In the new year it is back to Ottawa with Carmen, The Passion for three performances followed by shows in Brandon, Regina and Saskatoon of the same production. In late February the Company takes Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute to Cedar Falls, Iowa for one performance. Then the repertoire switches to The Sleeping Beauty with shows in Vancouver and Victoria before returning home to Winnipeg for five performances. The final production for the season is an all Balanchine program in Winnipeg in May featuring Serenade, Concerto Barocco and the RWB premiere of The Four Temperaments.
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