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SUE 48 ALL 2008 Tothe Pointe IS F Annual Reports Message from Embraced in Fall Newsletter Artistic Director This Fall’s To the Pointe newsletter is the The last few years have been a period of extraordinary, positive change for NBS but latest NBS publication to be revitalized. also a period requiring considerable adjustment as we have embraced the challenge Beginning in the Spring, with the newly of growing into and living up to the full potential of our wonderful new facilities. branded logo, we then launched in July an improved website. Now, we are During 07/08, I believe we truly have found our stride and, through a rigorous and changing the content and delivery of continuous process of self-evaluation conducted in a spirit of collegial openness, the Fall newsletter. are now advancing strongly with renewed energy and a clear sense of purpose. In the past, our Fall newsletter included As an example of this, we have worked with incoming board chair Judith Gelber brief articles about the School. This year and her committee as well as outside consultant Matt Holland—once a dancer we’ve continued to distribute monthly with the Joffrey Ballet—to complete NBS’s first strategic plan. e-newsletters and mail out two, more content-rich newsletters. This Fall In harmony with this, my colleague and Co-CEO, Jeff Melanson and I conducted newsletter is expanded and includes the “Listening Tours” that has allowed our staff to share their beliefs, concerns and program reports that typically appeared goals with us. This ongoing process is helping solidify NBS’s institutional ethos only in the Annual General Report (AGR). and foster an integrated approach to meeting our shared goals. Our goal here is two-fold: to interweave some of our publications and make them Jeff Melanson and I also have worked to strengthen the support staff who assist more collaborative and cohesive. And the divisional heads of NBS’s Artistic Program, not only as a way to achieve better secondly, to share the news previously workload distribution but to provide avenues for a new generation to gain contained in the AGR with a broader experience and ultimately move into leadership positions within the school. audience. Now, more people will be able to read summaries of the past year’s Last year I reported on plans for the then soon-to-be-launched YOU dance, an events, and know our objectives for the exciting initiative involving the partnership of NBS and the National Ballet in a upcoming year. Some may choose to unique outreach program designed also to provide invaluable performance access this report via our website as we opportunities for NBC apprentice dancers. The success of YOU dance in its attempt to reduce our carbon footprint first season surpassed my expectations. More than 7,000 Toronto-based school by printing fewer quantities of all our children, aged nine to 11, came to NBS to attend a YOU dance performance publications. and/or to experience a series of three movement workshops. Their rapt attention and excited response confirmed that from its outset, YOU dance has been and We are excited to share this more detailed will continue to be an important way for NBS to engage and contribute to a information as we continue to evolve our wider community. communications with you. Community engagement has long been part of NBS’s mandate and has manifested itself in various ways throughout the year. Beyond the continued success of our Associates and Adult Programs here on Jarvis Street, NBS has been active elsewhere too, with expansions in community outreach in Drummondville, Quebec, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Nanaimo, British Columbia. Meanwhile, we continue to investi- gate feasible means to share NBS’s teaching methods through electronic media. TO THE POINTE FALL 2008 CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL 2 NBS HIGHLIGHTS 07/08 I am truly honoured to serve Canada’s National Ballet School as Co-CEO and I want to thank the entire NBS community for their support of NBS and its students through 2007/2008. This has been another tremendous year, full of incredible challenges and many institutional successes. I am constantly inspired by the culture of excellence here at NBS and the important role we play on the international dance scene. Throughout the past year, with the invaluable input of NBS board members 2007/2008 was full of organizational along with staff and students, we have also intensified planning for our upcoming highlights: 50th Anniversary. The approach of this historic anniversary has, understandably, given me many occasions to think about the remarkable things NBS has • Budget surplus—I am delighted to already accomplished. More importantly, as I enter my 20th year as Artistic report that NBS has posted its second Director, it has motivated me to reflect on my own goals for the year ahead. straight year of budget surplus in our dramatically expanded new home. A primary focus continues to be the final planning for NBS’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, part of which will see 12 of our partner schools bring students for • Currie Hall—We were proud to open a festival of dance in November 2009. This week long event will include both the restored Currie Hall, which was prepared repertoire and a student choreographic workshop—with each of the refurbished through the generous creations involving an international cast composed of students from NBS and support of Richard and Beth Currie. all of the visiting schools. The spirit of this Festival will draw the ballet community together in a dynamic and unparalleled fashion, with a view to • YOU dance—We launched our dynamic strengthening relationships and enhancing the quality of the art form long new joint venture with our sister into the future. organization, The National Ballet of Canada. YOU dance reflects our two Mavis Staines organizations’ shared sense of purpose Artistic Director & Co-CEO and our aspiration to ensure no child is denied access to performance and participation opportunities in dance. continued . 3 HIGHLIGHTS continued . • New Logo/Website—We were excited • NBS Staff Colleagues—I am constantly • Government of Ontario—We gratefully to release the new look and online amazed by your talent, passion and acknowledge the support of Minister of presence of NBS. We now have a commitment. You are NBS and your Culture, The Honourable Aileen Carroll, virtual presence that captures the myriad contributions create a culture her Chief of Staff Lisa Clements and imagination and will serve as a key of excellence. key ministry staff members Stephen building block for our future. Davidson and Richard Mortimer; our The success realized throughout 2007/2008 local MPP and Deputy Premier, The • Bata Shoe Museum—We were pleased was fuelled by the collective efforts of the Honourable George Smitherman for his to launch a co-venture with the Bata NBS community. Board Director Joan unwavering advocacy for NBS; the Shoe Museum and hope this will be the Lozinski and her husband Jerry Lozinski Ontario Arts Council, and in particular, first of many creative partnerships with made a generous $3,000,000 pledge to Martha Durdin and the Board of our fellow arts organizations in Toronto NBS’ PGJ Campaign, helping to ensure Directors, John Brotman, Billyann Bilay and beyond. our success in completing PGJ. We and Myles Warren. completed the inspirational work of • Awards—the Jarvis Street campus won PGJ Campaign co-chairs Margaret and • City of Toronto—Our city Councillor, three significant awards in 2007/2008, Wallace McCain with the unveiling of the Kyle Rae is tireless in his work on our the Urban Land Institute Award, the Maitland Street Residence; and our behalf, and we thank Rita Davies and RAIC Medal for Architecture and the annual Gala honoured two individuals her staff in the Culture Division for their Governor General’s Medal for who have given tirelessly of themselves support. Architecture. for the benefit of the arts in Toronto, Sandra Faire Fecan and Ivan Fecan. As we close the chapter on our 07/08 year, There are many people to acknowledge we look forward to 08/09 with a renewed for the success of 2007/2008, but I would As arts organizations, we play significant sense of purpose, vision and potential. I like to highlight a few individuals who roles in shaping our society and invite you all to join us on this journey. have made a transformative impact in my developing creative contexts that foster life, and the life of NBS, over the past year: innovation, as well as individual, social Jeff Melanson and economic growth. We could not fulfill Executive Director & Co-CEO • Mavis Staines—Mavis, it is a truly rare this mandate without the support of our experience to work with a colleague of government partners. I would like to such integrity and character. Thank you acknowledge the instrumental work of for your focus and sense of humour the following individuals in enabling our through a year that tested our important work: resilience and capacity. • Government of Canada—Sincere • Chair, Charles Richards, incoming thanks to Minister of Canadian Chair Judith Gelber and the Board of Heritage, The Honourable Josée Verner Directors. NBS’ Board has shown for her government's commitment to amazing dedication and commitment arts training and to NBS; Director through gifts of insight, time and General Cynthia White-Thornley, and financial resources. We simply could Michel Lemay, Maria Martin, and Trevor not succeed without your support, Keck for their ongoing support to NBS energy and guidance. through the National Arts Training Contribution Programme. TO THE POINTE FALL 2008 CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL 4 Professional Ballet Program 07/08 Most of you have experienced the special All PBP graduates were successfully Finally, I am sure you would agree that thrill of watching NBS students in their placed in post-secondary programs best inspiration is an important element in the annual Spring Showcase performances.