To the Pointe the To ISSUE 53 FALL 2011 Farewell Message Message from from Jeff Melanson the Artistic Director The five years I spent at NBS were coloured Community Engagement: the flashmobs Ministries of Culture and Health Promotion My priority entering the 2010/11 year was When Cynthia Roberts, one of NBS’ two care of the students and superb with great opportunities, wonderful have been hugely successful on a number and those many friends on every side to help all NBS staff prepare for 2011/12, gifted part-time Physiotherapists, left for organisational skills will be sorely missed, colleagues, fantastic donors, diligent Board of levels. We’ve engaged our local NBS of the political spectrum at City Hall in as it is a year that brings with it many a year’s maternity leave in January 2011, throughout July she thoughtfully mentored members and many special memories. community, made valuable relationships Toronto. Many of you I shall continue to staff leader transitions due to retirement, co-partner, Jen Denys, assumed a full- her successor, Suzzette Patten. with schools and educators and reached work with and I look forward to doing so maternity leave, sabbaticals or career time schedule to carry both their hours. The following are some of the highlights a global audience through YouTube with in the months and years ahead. changes. As NBS staff members develop Executive Director and my Co-CEO, My ‘Personal Assistant’ Katherine Jeff Melanson, alerted me in early May each synthesizing what I believe are the our demonstration/teaching and close relationships, the challenge was to embrace colleagues’ pending departures Hallisey, announced in November her to a “job offer he could not refuse”, that core strengths of the best organisations: performance videos. The online pedagogy In terms of artistic highlights, my hat goes as an opportunity for the School to evolve January departure to pursue career of the President of the Banff Centre. As teamwork, passion and a commitment platforms will be tremendously valuable, off to Mavis Staines for her brilliant vision and strengthen. This challenge proved dreams as a personal trainer. Susannah sad as I was to hear the news, I also was to striving for the very best. Aligning with as NBS aims to engage all of our country’s of the Assemblée Internationale, 2009. It even greater than anticipated as 2010/11 Scott has seamlessly filled Katherine’s excited for Jeff. His contributions to the the strategic initiatives developed with the children in dance. brought together all the elements to make also presented an unusually high number ‘large shoes’ since early January 2011; Canadian arts community through this Board over the past few years these are a stellar event: top talent from around the of unexpected changes. in fact, with such brilliant initiative role will be invaluable. I am deeply grateful areas of which I’m most proud: Development: I’m particularly grateful for world, innovation, creativity and best Susannah now also is coordinating the for the almost five years Jeff and I worked the many ways in which our donors have practice—this gathering continues to In chronological order: National Audition Tour administrative as partners. His capacity for innovative Technology: beginning in 2008, NBS contributed to our various campaigns; resonate with me and I’ll continue to revisit responsibilities. thinking/creative planning, and passion updated its website and developed an be it completing Project Grand Jeté, this experience and share it with others. Academic Principal John Maitland for the arts have strengthened NBS in online component of the retail store, The contributing to the Annual campaign, con- announced, just prior to the start of the Beloved NBS Ballet Teacher for over four ways which will resonate for years to come. Shoe Room. During the 50th anniversary, tributing to the explosive growth of our I could not have asked for a better team year, his retirement from this role—after a decades, Glenn Gilmour, passed away on a microsite was created to give more endowment or participating in the Betty of staff to work with, nor could I imagine decade of impeccable and deeply valued February 5th after a fast and fierce battle I will now shift from the theme of transi- information on NBS’ special activities. In Oliphant Theatre refurbishment. Every how exhilarating Mavis Staines would service. One of NBS’ two Academic with cancer. Over four hundred alumni tions to conclude this report with humble the Fall of 2009, our online national dance contribution is vital for NBS’ success, be as Co-CEO. Her passion, vigour and Vice-Principals, Neil Walsh, agreed to attended the May 7th tribute (brilliantly thanks to all who supported/endorsed registry wanttodance.ca was launched and its future depends on your continued dedication to NBS, its staff and students carry the reins as Interim Principal; after realised by NBS Alumni champion, Tess my appointment as a ‘Member to the and has seen significant growth in those commitment. are unparalleled. To the Board of Directors, a few months of exceptional leadership McLean) to celebrate Glenn’s remarkable Order of Canada’. Receiving this news two years. Next month, the site created I thank you all for playing a key role and it was abundantly clear Neil should be contributions to the School. Fortunately, was profoundly moving. I also believe this to house all of the flashmob routines, Government partnerships: it has truly for your support over the past five years. offered the position permanently. former NBS ballet teacher, Ana Jojic, honour celebrates our collective work; sharingdance.ca will launch. These varied been a pleasure to develop and deepen NBS will continue to be a part of me and agreed to return from Stuttgart in for over two decades we have jointly web presences will establish NBS as a NBS’ relationships with our political while I will no longer be in Ballet Bob’s Manager of the Junior School and the September 2011 to again teach full-time weathered the worst and the best of times leader in fostering dance participation colleagues and friends. From those in Adult Ballet class, I promise to keep National Audition Tour, Deborah Bowes, at the School. and realized cherished dreams; most nationally. the Department of Canadian Heritage, working on my turn-out and follow closely gave notice of her August 2011 retirement importantly, we are united though our Assistant Head of Residence, Ellie Rugg commitment to ensuring NBS “moves to Infrastructure Ontario and Ontario’s as NBS continues to shape and share from her administrative responsibilities. Thank goodness there was a year to -Gunn, tendered an August resignation as the world.” its mission and mandate in Canada and prepare NBS Artistic Faculty members her scientist husband had accepted a abroad. Laurel Toto to assume the role of Junior post in England. While Ellie’s compassionate Mavis Staines School Manager; Alexander Gorbatsevich Artistic Director & Co-CEO I have loved my time in Toronto and at to oversee National Audition Tour NBS. I have learned so much from so activities; and Ashleigh Powell to work as many amazing people. Thank you all for Laurel Toto’s co-manager in Community helping make me a better person. The Engagement. And thank goodness Deb journey has been magical. Bowes agreed to continue teaching part- time in 2011/12 and mentor those carrying Jeff Melanson her previous responsibilities. Former Executive Director & Co-CEO Head of NBS’ Teacher Training Program, Anuschka Roes, worked closely with incoming Interim Head, Cindy Fisher, to oversee the program during Anuschka’s richly deserved 2011/12 sabbatical year. TO THE POINTE FALL 2011 CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL 2 3 Academic Report Students in the Professional Ballet Program designs by our multi-talented visual arts receive an enriched curriculum based students. Music Night and Matinée, on the Ontario Ministry of Education guided by Ellen Smee and Margot Rejskind Residence guidelines. Although most graduates go were great, and we capped the year off on to dance, students are prepared for with the usual magnificent yearbook Report university and careers beyond dance. thanks to the graduating class under the Students and staff in Residence had leadership of Lisa Fleischmann. At our an enriching year filled with fun, hard The academic department had many annual commencement, we celebrated the work and a dedication to sharing and successes in the past year. On the first many outstanding academic accomplish- supporting each other. In addition to our Saturday back after the summer break, ments of our graduating class. All of the full-time students from across Canada we held a school-wide Design Challenge. graduates achieved honours. NBS Board and the U.S., we welcomed exchange Teams of students from grades 6 through Chair, Troy Maxwell, presented the students from New Zealand, Japan and 12 were presented with a series of design Governor General’s Medal to Maya Ashoka Australia. A group of senior students Professional Ballet Program Report challenges using ordinary materials such who had a grade average of 97%. formed a band called The Residence as newspaper, cardboard, popsicle sticks, While the 2010/11 school year was rich The second development is tied to NBS’ Staying in the realm of NBS alumni now who willingly performed at all of our café and glue. The students had fun and The end of the 20910/11 school year has with note-worthy achievements, two belief that our Physiotherapy Department choreographing, the New York based and nights as well as at the School’s Earth learned a lot, especially about problem- brought some academic staff changes. developments stand out as particularly should go beyond injury prevention and now world-renowned Aszure Barton Hour celebration in March.