Raymond Smith (dancer)

Raymond Smith is a Canadian ballet dancer and teacher, who was a principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada from 1980 to 1995.[1]

Biography

Raymond Smith was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and immigrated to Canada at the age of seven.[2] He began dancing lessons in London,[3] Ontario, at the age of 11, and entered Canada's National Ballet School[4] at the age of 12, in the eighth grade. Upon graduating in 1975, he joined the corps de ballet of the National Ballet of Canada,[5] making his professional debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in Coppélia.[2] He was promoted to the rank of second soloist in 1978, to first soloist in 1979, and to principal dancer in 1980.[6][7] During the 1985-86 season, he was a principal dancer with London Festival Ballet.[8] Smith performed as a guest artist at La Scala,[9] with Scottish Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Royal Winnipeg Ballet.[10] He also appeared as a contemporary dancer with the Desrosiers Dance Theatre at the Calgary Olympic Arts Festival in 1988.[11] His decade-long stage partnership with ballerina Veronica Tennant was particularly admired by critics.[12][13][14][15][16][2]

Smith retired from the stage in May 1995, following a performance as one of the Stepsisters[17] in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella.[2] He subsequently worked as a ballet master for Ontario Ballet Theatre,[18] Ballet BC[10] and BalletMet.[19] Since 2004 he has been on the faculty of Canada's National Ballet School.[20][21][22]

Repertoire

Smith's repertoire included La Sylphide (James), Napoli (Gennaro),[23] Giselle (Count Albrecht),[24] Coppélia (Franz),[25] Swan Lake (Prince),[26][27] The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund,[12][28] Bluebird[29]), Celia Franca's production of The Nutcracker (Prince),[30] Don Quixote (Basilio),[13][31] the third act of Raymonda (Jean de Brienne),[32] Michel Fokine's Les Sylphides[7] and Le Spectre de la rose,[7] Frederick Ashton's Romeo and Juliet (Romeo, Mercutio[33]), La Fille mal gardée (Colas)[34] and The Two Pigeons (Young Man),[35] John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet (Romeo),[36][15][37] Onegin (Lensky,[38] Onegin[14][39][40][41]) and The Taming of the Shrew (Lucentio),[42][43][44] Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow (Camille de Rosillon;[45][46][47] a role filmed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation[48]), George Balanchine's Serenade, Concerto Barocco,[49] The Four Temperaments (Melancholic,[50] Sanguinic[51]) and Symphony in C (third movement),[52] Kenneth MacMillan's Elite Syncopations, Song of the Earth (the Man)[53] and Concerto,[54] Glen Tetley's Sphinx (Oedipus),[55] Alice (White Rabbit),[56][57] La Ronde (the Count)[58][59] and Tagore,[60] Maurice Béjart's Song of a Wayfarer,[61] Harald Lander's Etudes,[62] Anne Ditchburn's Mad Shadows (Patrice; a role filmed by the CBC[63]), Robert Desrosiers' Blue Snake (filmed by the National Film Board of Canada[64]) and several ballets created by James Kudelka[65][66][2] and John Alleyne.[67][68]

References

  1. Neufeld, James (2011). Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 440. ISBN 978-145-970-1212.
  2. Walker, Susan. "Final role puts dancer through hoops", Toronto Star, 6 May 1995, p. H2
  3. Belanger, Joe (13 May 2016). "Victoria Carter has helped shape a generation of dancers". London Free Press. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  4. "Ballet gaining as career for boys", Globe and Mail, 18 May 1971, p. 14
  5. Neufeld, James (2011). Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-145-970-1212.
  6. Harris, Christopher. "Ballet Dancer Retires", Globe and Mail, 17 April 1995, p. C1
  7. "National promotes 5 male dancers", Globe and Mail, 22 March 1980, p. 16
  8. Littler, William. "National Ballet changes the rules", Toronto Star, 12 August 1985, p. D2
  9. "Romeo e Giulietta". www.teatroallascala.org. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  10. Inwood, Damian (8 October 1997). "New Ballet Master". The Province. p. B2. Retrieved 10 August 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  11. Kisselgoff, Anna (23 February 1988). "Desrosiers in Calgary". The New York Times. p. C13. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  12. Gildiner, Alina. "Evil fairy bedevils Sleeping Beauty", Globe and Mail, 25 November 1982, p. E9
  13. Gardiner, Alina. "Robust and comic, Don Quixote is a joy", Globe and Mail, 18 August 1983, p. 20
  14. Crabb, Michael. "Tennant and Smith burn up ballet stage", Toronto Star, 5 May 1988, p. B2
  15. Kelly, Deirdre. "Tennant bows out in a blaze of glory", Globe and Mail, 14 February 1989, p. A17
  16. Currie, Rod (25 February 1989). "New National Ballet pairing blends power and elegance". Montreal Gazette. Toronto. p. H10. Retrieved 10 August 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  17. Littler, William. "As ballet, Cinderella's still a pumpkin and 4 rodents", Toronto Star, 12 May 1995, p. C11
  18. Walker, Susan. "Witkowsky to leave ballet after years in Kain's shadow", Toronto Star, 9 May 1996, p. G8
  19. Spaner, Whitney (2 December 2002). "Ballet director turns tragedy to triumph". The Lantern. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  20. "Raymond Smith". Canada's National Ballet School. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  21. Wong, Julia (19 November 2013). "Plies and pointe: young ballet dancers dream big". Global News. Halifax. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  22. Ricci, Talia (19 September 2019). "For first time in history of Canada's National Ballet School, more boys than girls will graduate". CBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  23. Kisselgoff, Anna (22 November 1981). "Schaufuss' Bournonville in Canada". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  24. Godfrey, Stephen. "Twin versions of Giselle a study in contrast", Globe and Mail, 23 November 1981, p. 20
  25. Kelly, Deirdre. "Ballet a frilly postcard lacking spark", Globe and Mail, 15 February 1991, p. D4
  26. Godfrey, Stephen. "Tennant's first flutter wins audience over", Globe and Mail, 7 March 1980, p. 15
  27. Godfrey, Stephen. "2 Swans like night and day", Globe and Mail, 20 August 1981, p. 19
  28. Gildiner, Alina. "Sleeping Beauty is awake at last", Globe and Mail, 14 May 1984, p. M11
  29. Dunning, Jennifer (9 July 1979). "Augustyn as Florimund". The New York Times. p. C16. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  30. "Annual show wasn't always what it was cracked up to be", Toronto Star, 16 December 1989, p. J8
  31. Scott, Michael (16 October 1992). "Ballet overwhelms with intoxicating beauty". Vancouver Sun. p. C10. Retrieved 10 August 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  32. Littler, William. "National's mixed bill gets mixed report card", Toronto Star, 27 February 1987, p. D22
  33. Testa, Alberto (23 March 1986). "'Romeo e Giulietta' davvero di gran classe". La repubblica. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  34. Godfrey, Stephen. "National's fall season had its ups and downs", Globe and Mail, 1 December 1980, p. 15
  35. Kisselgoff, Anna (5 March 1979). "'Two Pigeons,' By Ashton, in Toronto". The New York Times. p. C14. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  36. Godfrey, Stephen. "Dancers faithful to old romance", Globe and Mail, 25 February 1980, p. 15
  37. Littler, William. "New Juliet remarkably mature", Toronto Star, 29 April 1993, p. F7
  38. Kisselgoff, Anna (18 June 1984). "Toronto Festival Offers National Ballet". The New York Times. p. C17. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  39. Kelly, Deirdre. "Tennant meets Onegin's challenge in a spine-tingling performance", Globe and Mail, 6 May 1988, p. C9
  40. Kisselgoff, Anna (26 July 1988). "Canadians In 'Onegin' At the Met". The New York Times. p. C22. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  41. Citron, Paula. "National's Onegin right on the mark", Toronto Star, 24 February 1994, p. E3
  42. Everett-Green, Robert. "Taking a holiday from seriousness", Globe and Mail, 15 February 1992, p. C6
  43. Doruyter, Renee (15 October 1993). "Cute's the word for this Taming of the Shrew". The Province. p. B36. Retrieved 10 August 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  44. Citron, Paula. "A star is born at the ballet", Toronto Star, 4 November 1993, p. E6
  45. Citron, Paula. "Merry Widow showcases talented dancers", Toronto Star, 17 November 1986, p. D2
  46. Dunning, Jennifer (9 April 1987). "Canada's 'Widow'". The New York Times. p. C14. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  47. Littler, William. "The Widow waltzes on with flowers of spring", Toronto Star, 30 April 1992, p. B13
  48. "The Merry Widow". Arthaus Musik. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  49. Kelly, Deirdre. "Inventive La Ronde makes engaging debut", Globe and Mail, 7 November 1987, p. C3
  50. Kelly, Deirdre. "New faces bring new vitality to dance demands", Globe and Mail, 20 February 1989, p. C9
  51. Everett-Green, Robert. "Alice in the looking glass", Globe and Mail, 21 February 1992, p. C4
  52. Kelly, Deirdre. "Alleyne hits the big league with a witty feast of imagery", Globe and Mail, 25 November 1988, p. D11
  53. Littler, William. "National still renting Makarova's Paquita", Toronto Star, 28 February 1991, p. D1
  54. Nicol, Wendy (17 May 1989). "Ballet Group Puts On Enthusiastic Performance". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 25. Retrieved 10 August 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  55. Neufeld, James (2011). Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-145-970-1212.
  56. Littler, William. "Tetley pulls second white rabbit from hat", Toronto Star, 26 November 1987, p. B5
  57. Segal, Lewis (30 May 1988). "National Ballet of Canada Does Tetley's 'Alice'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  58. Kisselgoff, Anna (24 July 1988). "New Cast in 'La Ronde' By the Canadian Ballet". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  59. Hickman, Susan (5 October 1989). "La Ronde highlights National Ballet show". Edmonton Journal. p. C4. Retrieved 10 August 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  60. Kisselgoff, Anna (17 May 1989). "In Toronto, an Experiment for the National Ballet". The New York Times. p. C17. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  61. Littler, William. "Choreographer says fears came true", Toronto Star, 20 November 1986, p. B3
  62. Littler, William. "National Ballet in an autumnal mood", Toronto Star, 15 November 1990, p. B2
  63. Godfrey, Stephen. "TV mixed blessing for Mad Shadows", Globe and Mail, 12 November 1979, p. 20
  64. Blue Snake. OCLC 83792509. Retrieved 3 January 2017 via WorldCat.
  65. Kisselgoff, Anna (9 March 1981). "'Sylphide' Upstaged in Toronto". The New York Times. p. C15. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  66. Neufeld, James (2011). Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-145-970-1212.
  67. Littler, William. "Choreographer bound to travel", Toronto Star, 24 November 1988, p. C4
  68. Reed Doob, Penelope. "Getting in on the act", Globe and Mail, 30 April 1991, p. C1
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