History

1939

The Winnipeg Ballet Club, founded by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, gives its first performances.

1953

Winnipeg Ballet receives the first Royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth II in the Commonwealth.

1958

Arnold Spohr, former RWB dancer, accepts the position of Artistic Director of the RWB, a position that he held until 1988.

1962

RWB opens its General Division School under the direction of former RWB Principal Dancer, Jean McKenzie.

1964

Arnold Spohr established the Scholarship program, under the direction of the programme's first teacher, Ted Patterson.

1968

RWB wins two Gold Medals at the Paris International Dance Competition.

1972

David Moroni, former RWB Dancer, becomes principal of the newly formed Professional Division.

1980

Principal Dancers Evelyn Hart and David Peregrine win Gold and Bronze Medals at the World Ballet Concours in Japan.

1987

Galina Yordanova's staging of Swan Lake premieres to a sold-out house and critical acclaim in Winnipeg.

1990

RWB Soloist Mark Godden is appointed RWB's Resident Choreographer.

1996

André Lewis, O.M., is named Artistic Director of the RWB.

1998

Artistic Director Emeritus Arnold Spohr receives the Governor General's Performing Arts Award at Rideau Hall ceremony.

2002

The Canadian premiere of Mauricio Wainrot's Carmina Burana takes place in Winnipeg.

2009

The RWB premieres Quantz by Quanz choreographed by Peter Quanz, the first Canadian to create a work for the legendary Kirov Ball

2010

The RWB shatters box office records, presenting Moulin Rouge® The Ballet to nearly 50,000 audience members across North America.

2011

World premieres in Winnipeg of Mark Godden's Svengali and Shawn Hounsell's Wonderland.

2012

The international co-production of dance icon Twyla Tharp's The Princess & The Goblin has its World Premiere in Atlanta.

2013

Acclaimed New York-based choreographer Lila York premieres Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale with the RWB.

2014

Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation received national critical acclaim to launch the RWB's 75th anniversary season.

2015

Winnipeg's Largest Dance School - The RWB School Recreational Division celebrated its 75th anniversary.

2016

RWB Company dancers Yue Shi and Saeka Shirai are awarded silver medals at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria

2017

James Kudelka’s Vespers made its World Premiere in May as the Company’s last performance of the season.

2018

The RWB, Kansas City Ballet and Colorado Ballet collaborate on the creation of Septime Webre's Wizard of Oz.

2019

The RWB's Nutcracker Celebrates its 20th Anniversary. Featuring walk-ons by the championship winning Blue Bombers and others.

"The company has never looked more resplendent, more assured, or more ravishing … a triumph for the indefatigable prairie troupe, a jewel box of sumptuous dancing…at every moment, the energy and youth radiating from the stage is palpable."
- The Vancouver Sun