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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 —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.

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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 . . .

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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.

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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. suited to the realization of their career education of young people and, of course, This year, it was particularly exciting to see goals and all those eligible who NBS staff do their best to provide this on our students dancing repertoire ranging completed the Post-Secondary Program a daily basis. Sometimes, however, from George Balanchine’s Serenade, to progressed into the profession. something magical happens that acts two challenging works by Canadian as an inspiration for all of us. That was modern dance icon and NBS Artist-in- During the year NBS was delighted to exactly the case last December when Residence, Peggy Baker and John welcome Madeleine Halle, an expert in former ballerina Alicia Alonso, Artistic Neumeier’s Yondering (originally created performance psychology who works with Director of the National Ballet of Cuba, on NBS students in 1996). I wish, as well, Cirque de Soleil, to enhance our students’ visited NBS and spoke to staff and that you could all have been with me in awareness of the complex process students. Alicia Alonso is one of the Lausanne last February when 12 NBS involved in preparing for a performance. ballet world's true living legends. What students joined their peers from the she has accomplished, against all the Hamburg Ballet School and Paris Opera Given the increasingly wide-ranging odds and despite the personal challenge Ballet School in a performance of artistic expectations of today’s dancers— of impaired vision throughout most of Yondering. The occasion was Le Prix their expectations as well as what company her professional career, is almost de Lausanne, of which I just finished an directors now expect—this year we were incomprehensible. Yet, there Alonso was eight-year term as Artistic President. able to integrate regular contemporary among us, imparting through her words Usually, while the judges are deliberating, repertoire and improvisation classes and gestures an indomitable, indefatigable a professional company performs. I (taught by Shaun Amyot, formerly an passion for the art of ballet that none of thought it would be more in the spirit of NDT and Forsythe dancer) in our senior us privileged to hear her will ever forget. this youth-oriented event if accomplished students’ schedules. It reminded us why we are here, doing students danced instead. I’m glad to have what we do. been able to realize this goal. I believe Additionally, we have strengthened the you would have been proud of the result career planning process through better Mavis Staines and the performance of our NBS students. coordinated parent involvement and have Artistic Director & Co-CEO enhanced the recruitment process into the I was equally proud of another initiative PBP by introducing a more comprehensive NBS introduced this year, a lecture Parent Handbook and orientation meetings demonstration series called “Ballet at the beginning and end of our annual Unplugged,” planned, prepared and even Summer School to inform parents fully partly choreographed by students in our about the scope of the education NBS Post-Secondary Program. It provides provides. them with invaluable experience, often directly applicable to the professional careers they are about to embark on.

Looking at the Professional Ballet Program overall I am able to report a number of positive developments and achievements.

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Academic School offers students of Psychology at York University. Dr. Pepler in the Professional Ballet Program an is Co-Director of PREVNet, a national Life in enriched curriculum based on the Ontario network promoting safe and healthy Ministry of Education guidelines. Although relationships for children and youth. residence most graduates go on to dance, the program does prepare students for I would like to take this opportunity to Grade Six university. At our annual graduation, all mention some academic staff changes. Some of us don’t have brothers and sisters at of the students in Grade 12 graduated Deborah Meadley has taken on the role of with honours, having an average of 80% Vice-Principal of Learning and Guidance. home. By living in residence, we feel like we have or more in their top 6 subjects. The class Sondra McGregor has taken over the many brothers and sisters. Our friends become had a grade average, based on their position of Librarian and Archivist in the family. When you live in residence, friends are academic courses, of 86.4%. Mr. Charles Resource Centre. Michael Locke who has there to help with homework and other tough stuff Richards, the Chair of the Board of held the position of teacher-librarian is that happens day to day. The residence counselors Directors, presented the Governor now full time teaching Grade 6, 7 and 8. help out too and make residence feel like a home General’s Medal to Danielle Bezaire Jody Mount, history of art and ballet, is who had a grade average of 96%. on maternity leave and her position is away from home for us. being covered by Cheryl Epstein, Rachel Over the last year we have been examining Taylor and Nadiene Gibney, all of whom Grades Seven and Eight ways in which the academic program can have previous connections with the Living in residence is great! Everything is better support character development, the School. Jessica Dreisziger, science and organized and so we can concentrate on what building of social relationship skills, and math, returns after being on maternity needs our focus and attention, like keeping on top student leadership. Trinity Theatre Training leave. I would like to also welcome to the has been involved in some preliminary academic staff: Ellen Smee and Dr. of school work and becoming the best dancers we work around student leadership and Margot Rejskind, music, Gord Meslin, can be. At residence, friends are like family: we supporting student social relationships. senior history, John Lamb, history, Lisa stick together and are there for each other no The senior partner in Trinity Theatre is Fleischmann, photography, Peter Clifford, matter what. Sandra Crockard, mother of Matthew math and science, and Annarita Primier, Crockard-Villa, a graduate of NBS. French. I am pleased to be able to state Under the direction of the School’s senior these teachers are already having a Grade Twelve consultant, Dr. Richard Meen, we are positive impact on the quality of It’s hard to believe that we’re now grade twelve now looking at a collaborative program instruction at NBS. students at Canada’s National Ballet School. involving staff from Artistic, Residence, Living in residence has been an excellent and Academic, along with Trinity Theatre John Maitland experience. Now that it’s our last year here, the Training and Dr. Debra Pepler, Professor Academic Principal residence is providing an environment to prepare us for living on our own next year: we’ve been learning how to manage our time and responsibility, as well as taking charge of our own schoolwork, appointments and free time. By having a kitchen available to us, we are able to learn how to cook our own meals. We even are able to take charge of stocking the kitchen with the food we need. This gives us the necessary skills to cook for ourselves next year when we are on our own. We are very excited to be living as if we are on our own. We greatly appreciate all the time and effort the residence staff have put into making this transition easier for us. We hope that the new residence students enjoy their years as much as we have over the past six years!

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Career Planning Success of recent graduates

Career Planning has become an The success of recent graduates is quite increasingly important part of the NBS impressive, companies that employ student's daily life. The process is started graduates from the past three years in Grade 10 in their Career Studies class. include YOU dance/National Ballet of Here, the students do detailed research Canada, Royal Danish Ballet, Dutch into one specific company of their choice. National Ballet, Dresden Semperoper In Grade 11, students are presented Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Leipzig with guidelines for the selection of a Ballet, Dusseldorf Ballet, Ballet Kelowna, Professional . This National Ballet of Mexico, Joffrey Ballet, document provides them with a list of Stuttgart Ballet, New York City Ballet, useful questions that should help them Boston Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Alonso determine what kind of atmosphere they King’s Lines and Ballet Jorgen. would hopefully thrive in. The Grade 12 Schools where recent graduates year brings these questions to a more are continuing their education scrutinized focus. An honest look at each include the Hamburg Ballet student’s strengths and weaknesses will School, the Stuttgart Ballet help determine what style of company School, the San Francisco they are best suited for. In this year, the Ballet School, the Palucca student, with the help of their counselor, Schule Dresden, the Royal Dutch must decide where to spend their Post- Conservatory, the Ailey School, Secondary year. This is often linked to and the Rotterdam Dance Academy. their companies of choice as certain companies require students to do at least Our goals for the future include one year in their School before being strengthening our worldwide network considered for their company. The Post- to maintain connections with as many Secondary Program students take all this companies as possible and continuing preparation from previous years, and to provide students with the necessary apply what they have learned into life skills and stage craft to excel in finalizing their list of targeted companies. their careers. Travel is researched, photos and resumes are revised, and auditions are arranged. Shaun Amyot Career Planning

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Teacher Training Program Diversity and common goals

The Teacher Training Program has always The year concluded with the annual nine students who are living at 113 Maitland. had a diverse range of students but 2007/ Teachers’ Seminar in August. The Seminar It’s wonderful to be able to offer this facility, 2008 was probably more international was well received with about 80 teachers especially to students new to Toronto. than usual. Incoming students came from from around the world in attendance. Costa Rica, Italy, Sweden, and the United Long-time NBS neuromuscular consultant, With the growth of outreach activities at States. The course for Professional Irene Dowd, partnered with biochemist NBS, future plans include mentoring Dancers was attended by Henning and former dancer, Rebecca Dietzel. young teachers to train as workshop Albrechtson from Denmark, Martine Lamy, Together, they focused on healthy tendons leaders to introduce dance to school age a grad from NBS and former Principal for dancers and teachers, as well as on students—to get children healthier and Dancer with NBoC as well as Naira movement and nutrition. Participants also learning through dance. Ramazanova from . With such engaged in practical sessions including a rigorous program, friendships were sessions with Sorella Englund and Anuschka Roes formed quickly as everyone had a artist-in-residence Peggy Baker. Head, Teacher Training Program common goal and a common interest in dance. Graduating students found Particularly exciting is the opening of a employment quite quickly and some had part of the Residence for Teacher Training their sights on working overseas. The grads Program students. Megan Navarro (grad are now working in their new vocation from 2007 and now student at School of across Canada, Europe, and Japan. Toronto Dance Theatre) is overseeing the

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07/08 National Audition Tour

One of the highlights of the National General Parents Meetings take place Audition Tour of 2007/08 was an initiative when there’s occasion for parents to visit we began in Toronto. We took our Open the school. These meetings see lively Classes and offered an expanded version discussion generated and give parents, so students were able to participate in an academic, artistic and residence staff an enriched, full-day experience. In addition opportunity to share information. to the morning ballet class, students signed up for a lunch lecture and a second On this year’s National Audition Tour, one class during the afternoon. The program of our goals is to increase nationally the proved to be immensely popular. The first number of students participating in our lecture lunch session was on the history Open Classes. They are a special of the , and all attendees were experience for everyone involved; our thrilled. The second lecture featured some NBS staff enjoy making connections with of NBS’s Post-Secondary Program local dance communities, and bringing students discussing their Spring Showcase them together in each city we visit. performance. While talking about the repertoire they danced, they also spoke Debora Bowes of the challenge of interpretation and Head of Junior School and Auditions performance.

With the advent of our new website, we’ve been able to enhance the Parent Student Handbook and turn it into a living document. Now the book gives parents a sense of what happens throughout the school. More than dates and schedules, it includes information concerning the philosophy of the training and how students move from one level to the next. As the book is refreshed throughout the year, it allows parents to continually feel connected to the school and the day-to- day activities taking place here. We intend to keep introducing new content and information for parents and families via the website.

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Associates Program 07/08

About one hundred twenty-five Associates the Post-Secondary Program to repertoire or a piece choreographed by Program (AP) students appeared in the showcase their work. The initiative allows the teacher specifically for presentation 2007 production of The NBoC’s The students to refine their performance skills and learned by the students over the Nutcracker. Students danced the roles of and gives the community-at-large an course of the year.) These classes present Lambs, Mice, Chefs and Guards; many opportunity to see the process and students with the opportunity to Senior Associates appeared in the Battle substance of their endeavours. We look experience the challenges and rewards Scene. Our congratulations to Stella forward to more performances in the of performance at a professional level Leowanita and Tyler Robinson—two of 2008/09 academic year. while familiarizing them with the artistic the students cast as Misha and Marie; demands of the classical repertoire. Stella and Tyler, who are in the It is noteworthy that Ballet Unplugged Additionally, family and community Professional Ballet Program are former and the TTP/AP performances are very members can enjoy the fruits of students’ Associates Program students. promising instances of joint efforts classroom efforts. between the AP and other NBS programs. The Associates Program year-end We look forward to more of such fruitful We look forward to the upcoming year presentation in June began with the and inspiring initiatives. and wish our new and returning students story of The Bad Cat—a delightful piece all the best in the coming months. performed by the 6-yr-olds and I am very pleased to announce some choreographed by Angie Seto; The Bad recent staff appointments. By the time Laurel Toto Cat chorus was particularly engaging. this article is in print Angie Seto, a gifted Head, Associates Program Included in the Associates Program year- and very capable teacher, will have end presentation were some exciting become my full time Artistic Assistant. and very imaginative jazz pieces We are very lucky to have her on staff and choreographed by Shona Jackson and I look forward to working closely with her. Courtney Bowman. All pieces in the More new staff members will have joined presentation were skillfully arranged and us as of September 2008: Joanna Hilchie, organized by AP staff members and Gillian Clarke and Martine Lamy all beautifully performed by the students. graduated from the TTP June 2008, have joined the artistic faculty of NBS and will In February 2008 Teacher Training be teaching in the Associates Program as Program/Associates Program students of September. presented a choreographic workshop. All workshop presentations were thoughtfully Still looking ahead to the 2008/09 school choreographed by students in the Teacher year, the scope of the Associates Program Training Program (TTP). will have been extended to include 5 year-olds as its youngest members and Ballet Unplugged is an initiative for Senior Associates’ upcoming Christmas students in the NBS Post-Secondary presentation will include excerpts from Program that began in 2007. Associates their weekly repertory classes. (A word of Program families were allowed free explanation: “repertory” classes are a admission to a series of workshops and series of classes in which students learn presentations organized by students in either an excerpt from the extant classical

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Adult Ballet Program continues to expand

The 2007/2008 year of the Adult Ballet This year, I have been able to use Program was another resounding success graduates and graduating students from with increased enrollment and an our Teacher Training Program on advice expanded class schedule. It is amazing from Anushcka Roes, the director of this that the popularity of the program is largely world-class program. The new teachers due to word of mouth. As a program are Amy Gledard, Angie Seto, Cheryl director, it is wonderful to hear from new Corbettt and Ashley Powell. Both the students that they heard about the school doors of the offices to Anuschka and Outreach from our existing students. Given the Laurel Toto, director of the Associates popularity of the program, we again were Program, are open for co-operative 07/08 & Beyond approached by magazines for interviews sharing of staff or just brainstorming and lifestyle articles and by CBC for one about efforts for future endeavors. Many The outreach projects of 2007/08 served of their programming features. thanks to these wonderful colleagues for as the basis for expansion as we move their dedication to all the NBS programs. into 2008/09 and beyond. Partnerships Part of this exciting year was the with other organizations were established development of the new NBS website. Mavis Staines, our remarkable leader, and new projects have begun to evolve. Many students volunteered to give recently asked me to think about my We have concentrated our activities in testimonials of their experiences for the dreams for the future of the Adult Ballet three areas, the Greater Toronto Area, three website. It was heartening to hear the program. There are many initiatives I cities across Canada, and international genuine comments about not only my believe we can undertake especially in events. This combination of outreach classes, but those of my colleagues in the areas of fitness conditioning in which programs provides the opportunity for the Adult Ballet Program. Some of the NBS is a world leader. Further expansion people of all ages to become physically testimonials can be heard and watched of the program will probably use Sundays active while they explore ideas in a online at www.nbs-enb.ca as a day for adult students to dance. The non-competitive setting and at a level 2008/09 schedule already has 30 classes of participation equal to their abilities I’ve heard many times from the students on the roster, with additional classes to and interests. about the incredible instruction they be added in January 2009. Many thanks receive from the staff. Richard Sias, to Mavis, the Adult Ballet staff and to my Outreach in the GTA Jennifer Bolt, Gdalit Neman and Elizabeth colleagues, Anuschka and Laurel, but Programs in the Greater Toronto Area Leyds continued to provide exceptional especially to those Jamies, Katherines, include: training and each have developed a Shellys, Andys, Lathas, Demmys, Yananias, student following from term to term as Philips and the other 600 students who DAREarts is an annual day long project a result of their efforts. Yet it is not only share the passion to dance and learn the which introduces young people to the the teaching; it is the whole Adult Ballet special art of Ballet. world of dance training. The participants experience that continues to draw people watch classes, take classes and eat lunch towards our program. A strong sense of Robert McCollum with NBS students, exchanging ideas and community and creativity also contributes Head, Adult Ballet Program experiences. to a stress-free environment which so . . . continued many of the students tell me they enjoy.

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Founders . . . continued Celia Franca, Outreach CC, LLD, DCL, DFA Betty Oliphant, CC, LLD, DLitt Ballet Unplugged, which made its debut Cinderella last spring and others will have Artistic Director & Co-CEO last year, is a series of informal workshop the same opportunity for this year’s Mavis Staines performances by NBS post secondary production of The Nutcracker. Executive Director & Co-CEO students. Performances consist of Jeff Melanson excerpts from and contemporary This year YOU dance will add Family works plus improvisation and works in Day (Monday, February 16) events progress. Performances are at the Betty which include workshops and Oliphant Theatre, open to the public and performances for the entire family. free of charge. New Initiatives To the Pointe April 29 has been proclaimed International In October we began a series of three ISSUE 48 FALL 2008 Dance Day by UNESCO’s International ten-week terms of creative dance classes

Dance Council and is celebrated with grade six students at Church Street Editor throughout the world. This year dance Junior Public School. These classes will Katharine Harris workshops in a variety of styles were take place during the school day, deal Contributors conducted in neighbourhood schools and with subject matter taught in the social Shaun Amyot, Deborah Bowes, Jeff Melanson, at NBS. In addition we partnered with studies program and link it with John Maitland, Robert McCollum, Anuschka Roes, Dance Immersion in offering specialized requirements in the pubic school dance Linda Rimsay, Mavis Staines, Laurel Toto workshops in Ballet/Hip Hop for men only. curriculum. Photos Joël Bénard, Dan Cremin, Jo-Anne Mcleod, Other projects and events include: NBS joins the Creative Arts Learning Matt Karas (Dance Teacher Magazine), Sian Richards Cylla von Tiedemann, Bruce Zinger • Regular tours of NBS facility Project this year which consists of a • Workshops and NBS tours with Art City series of three workshops designed for Legal Deposit participants in nearby neighbourhood elementary school teachers. The goal is Library and Archives Canada ISSN 1715-5193 of St. James Town to encourage teachers to use creative

• NBS and local high school students movement in their classrooms. Privacy and Confidentiality performed in The National Ballet of Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) has policies in Canada’s annual production of The Over the summer we established a place to protect the privacy of its donors and constituents. NBS treats your personal information with repsect. We do Nutcracker relationship with Art City in St. James not rent, sell or trade our mailing list. Any personal • NBS holds classes open to the public on Town, providing neighbourhood children information you provide is used to issue tax receipts and selected weekends throughout the year with tours of the school and mime to keep you informed of news, events and fundraising • Workshops are held in schools and workshops at their facility. opportunities in support of NBS. If you wish to be removed from any future mailings, please contact the community centres through out the year Privacy Officer at 416.964.3780. To review our full policy, • NBS faculty worked with York University Across Canada please visit our website at www.nbs-enb.ca to establish a series of workshops For three years NBS has spent several designed for students in the Faculty of days each year in Nanaimo, British Education. Columbia, Drummondville, Quebec, and • Dance Teachers’ Seminar—An annual St. John’s Newfoundland offering work- week-long seminar for ballet and modern shops. This project is unique in that dance teachers and performers who programs are designed for the specific wish to refresh or upgrade their needs and requests of each community. knowledge of dance instruction. Canada’s National Ballet School gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Canada through the NBS faculty continues to provide dance Departments of Canadian Heritage and Human Resources YOU dance, our first joint project with The teachers, both in the private sector and and Skills Development Canada; the Government of National Ballet of Canada, is a dynamic university programs, with workshops and Ontario through the Ontario Arts Council; the City of initiative designed to introduce students in special seminars on current methods of Toronto through the Culture Division; and the British Columbia Arts Council. grades 4, 5 and 6 to the richness of dance training dancers. In addition many serve through workshops and performances. In as adjudicators for ballet exams. The National Ballet School is also grateful to the its first year the project reached over Governments of Canada and Ontario for their contribution 7000 students and teachers. Registration International Events of $45 million toward Project Grand Jeté under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Progam. for the 2008/09 season has already The NBS has an international exchange booked over 10,000 participants. program which provides NBS students Charitable Registration Number: 10808 9673 RR0001 and students from partnering professional Because so many students expressed an training programs with an opportunity to interest in seeing more performances, study elsewhere for a period of a few arrangements were made for some of days to full terms. those participating in YOU dance to 400 JARVIS STREET, TORONTO attend the final dress rehearsal of The Linda Rimsay ONTARIO, CANADA M4Y 2G6 National Ballet of Canada’s production of Outreach Coordinator TEL 416.964.3780 FAX 416.964.5145 WWW.NBS-ENB.CA