Anniversaries

>> by Amy Bowring
Halifax’s YOung Company, which presents pre-professional dancers in modern dance concerts, celebrates its twentieth anniversary with performances May 8th and 9th, 2009 in Halifax … Decidedly Jazz Danceworks marks its twenty-fifth anniversary with performances in Calgary June 3rd through14th … The 2009/10 season marks other notable anniversaries. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB), the oldest ballet company in Canada and the longest continuously run ballet company in North America, will celebrate its seventieth anniversary. As part of the festivities, the RWB recently launched its “70 Stories for 70 Years” campaign for which it is gathering fond, funny and interesting stories from alumni, staff, audiences and others. Stories can be sent to anniversary@rwb.org; stories will be published on the RWB website and in newsletters throughout the season … Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) celebrates its fiftieth anniversary and is planning to exhibit materials from its archives in its Toronto home. Among other events spread throughout the year is an international choreographic festival titled “Assemblée Internationale, 2009: Collaboration. Choreography. Conference. A Student-Centred Dance Celebration” scheduled for November 2009, which involves pre-professional schools in Canada, Europe, the United States and other countries. There will be an Alumni/Homecoming Weekend in April 2010, a 50th Anniversary Spring Showcase in May 2010, and the Moved to Dance ’10, Annual Teachers’ Seminar in August 2010 …

PHOTO: Jean McKenzie and Arnold Spohr in Swan Lake / Photo by Phillips-Gutkin and Associates Ltd., courtesy of Dance Collection Danse