Brenda Gorlick

honour roll inductee

Biography

Brenda Gorlick’s remarkable connection to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet spans more than five decades and reflects her lifelong dedication to the arts as a performer, educator, choreographer, and advocate. Her journey with the RWB began as a young student in the General School, before progressing through the Junior and Senior Professional Divisions under David Moroni. In 1979, she joined the RWB as an apprentice to the Company under the direction of Arnold Spohr, marking the start of an outstanding professional career that would remain closely tied to the RWB for decades to come.

Beyond performing, Brenda has been a creative force at RWB, contributing as an accompanist, instructor, and choreographer for the Recreational Division, Professional Division, and the Company itself. Her expertise spans ballet, jazz, and musical theatre, and her talent was instrumental in the creation of RWB School’s musical theatre programming, opening new pathways for aspiring performers. With the creation of StudioWorks Academy – the musical theatre training wing of Winnipeg Studio Theatre, Brenda staged over 20 fully produced musicals for her young company. She has also been a passionate advocate for dancer wellness and career sustainability, serving as the Manitoba representative for the Dancer Transition Resource Centre for over 15 years. She currently serves on their Board as a representative for the central region.

Brenda’s impact reaches far beyond the studio. She has championed outreach programs bringing dance education to young people in remote communities and has created choreography for major events including the RWB’s high-profile fundraisers, the Pan Am Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Visit to Winnipeg. Her creative leadership extends to large-scale public celebrations such as the 2017 Grey Cup Gala, the Canada Summer Games Ceremonies, the Cultural Gala for the 2018 Arctic Winter Games and 2023 World Police & Fire Games

Throughout her career, Brenda has worked on more than 250 productions across every major theatre in Winnipeg. Highlights include Hamlet starring Keanu Reeves (Manitoba Theatre Centre), Strike! The Musical, Carmen (Manitoba Opera), Le Train (Cercle Molière), and Avenue Q and Altar Boyz (Winnipeg Studio Theatre/Prairie Theatre Exchange). As a performer, she has brought her talent to stages across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, including with the Stratford Festival and the Banff Centre for Fine Arts. Notable roles include Anita in West Side Story (Banff Centre), the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (Rainbow Stage), and Morticia in The Addams Family (Dry Cold Productions).

Brenda is deeply committed to arts accessibility and education. She serves as choreographer and instructor for Manitoba Possible’s All Abilities Dancers, empowering youth and adults with disabilities through dance. She created and helmed the Dance for Musical Theatre program at the University of Winnipeg for twenty years and most recently, co-founded AIM 4 ALL – an All Inclusive Musical theatre training and performance troupe. She is also Manitoba’s 1st certified Dancing with Parkinson’s instructor for U-Turn Parkinson’s.

Her work has been recognized with numerous accolades, including induction onto Rainbow Stage’s Wall of Fame (2014), a Women of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture (2015)  and Winnipeg Arts Council’s Career Achievement Award (2024). She has also appeared in several Manitoba-made films, including the Hallmark feature Love in Design, and has worked alongside screen legends such as Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere, and Shirley MacLaine.

Brenda Gorlick is known not only for her versatility and passion but for her ability to mentor, inspire, and empower others. Her former students have gone on to thrive in dance, musical theatre, acting, and choreography, and she continues to collaborate with many of them today. Through her contributions to the dance and performing arts community, Brenda has helped shape generations of artists and build a legacy that lives on within the RWB and beyond.