Canada’s National Ballet School BEYOND MOVING

Canada’s National Ballet School — the world’s most progressive ballet school with elite training for gifted dancers and the broadest range of community programs.

Canada’s National Ballet School BEYOND MOVING

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Dance enhances life. Dancing connects people emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. It promotes better health through movement.

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WHAT WE DO NBS trains and educates the next generation of elite dancers, choreographers, teachers, and artistic directors for Canadian and international stages. NBS also delivers a broader range of community programs than any other professional ballet school in the world. The excellence of the Professional Ballet Program informs all NBS programs. Professional and community dancers – from the youngest to the elderly – experience the same high standards. As an international leader in ballet training, NBS shares its knowledge and expertise to make dance accessible to as many people as possible.

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THE STRATEGIC PLAN As NBS approaches its 60th anniversary in 2019-2020, three strategic priorities guide its actions. The programs and projects mentioned are special initiatives to advance the School’s priorities. Building on the core programs for professional dance training and community engagement, these initiatives aspire to the same high standards that have been the hallmark of Canada’s National Ballet School since 1959.

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PRIORITY NO. 1 Achieve excellence in professional dance training and contribute to a vibrant future for the art of dance NBS remains a global leader in training elite dance artists, ensuring graduates are among the best prepared dancers — physically, artistically and academically — to succeed in today’s ballet world.

How We Achieve Excellence • Contribute to the evolution of ballet and pedagogical methods through international leadership and collaboration • Enhance student understanding of leadership and management in artistic projects • Encourage students to find their artistic voices through several approaches, including choreographic creation. • Integrate emerging technologies into the creation, performance, and teaching of dance

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Inspiring artists

Through: • Global Alumni Symposium: Alumni advise how to better prepare current and future students for the challenges of their future careers and lives •A  ssemblée Internationale 2017: The best ballet students and teachers from 22 of the world’s top schools gather at NBS for a week of training, rehearsal, performance, and crosscultural exchange •B  allet Commissions: Choreographers explore emerging technologies in the creation and performance of dance •S  tudent exchanges: annual student exchanges with over 25 international Professional Ballet Academies

Beyond Moving

Elite dance training with attention to evolving career practice, cross-cultural exchange, and emerging technologies. 7

PRIORITY NO. 2 Demonstrate Dance’s Relevance through Community Engagement NBS is a leading force in dance education for people of all ages and abilities, enabling appreciation of the emotional, physical, and cultural benefits that arise from participation in dance.

How We Demonstrate Dance’s Relevance • Engage communities in the enjoyment of dance using traditional methods and evolving technologies • Collaborate with universities and hospitals in studies that demonstrate the benefits of dance to health and well-being • Foster understanding and awareness of improved health and well-being through dance • Encourage other dance schools by example to innovate and collaborate on community engagement programs

Transforming lives BEYOND MOVING

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Through: • Online learning modules for Schools: Generalist teachers deliver healthy and enjoyable dance programs with support from NBS’ learning resources • Pan-Canadian partnerships: NBS and its national partners – Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Physical and Health Education Canada – engage communities of all ages in dance activity that improves health and quality of life • Research Projects: NBS collaborates with university researchers studying the impact of dance on the brain, the benefits of dance for age-related conditions, and the effect of dance on childhood health • Canada 150 Project: Canadians in every province join in Sharing Dance Day 2017, a mass celebration of dance for fun, fitness and in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary

Community dance programs that address childhood obesity, support health and wellness in aging populations, contribute to medical research, and encourage broad public participation. 9

PRIORITY NO. 3 Strengthen the Funding Model to support NBS’ mission and vision NBS cultivates deep loyalty from its donors and explores additional funding sources as programs expand to new areas.

How We Strengthen the Funding Model • Build momentum behind significant gift campaigns, e.g. 60th Anniversary Campaign • Develop and promote a compelling case for support to new audiences as programs expand • Systematically document NBS’ impact through results, stories, anecdotes • Showcase the success of NBS alumni in many fields • Ensure operational efficiency and optimize earned income opportunities

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Building support

Through: • New Public and Private Funders: Dance programs with broad public access and health benefits secure new sources of funding previously unavailable to NBS • Vision for the Future: A well-crafted vision provides the foundation for a 60th anniversary campaign to build the world’s most progressive professional ballet school with community programs accessible to all • Branding and Core Story: NBS’ public identity embraces both the professional and community programs as one whole • Compelling Case for Support: The impact of dance is captured and shared through testimonials, interviews, stories, and videos

Beyond Moving

A modern ballet school made strong by supporters who believe in elite training for gifted dancers and broad public access for people of all ages. 11

CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL A Global Leader in Professional Ballet Training and Community Dance Programs NBS is the foremost dance training institution in Canada, a non-profit charitable organization with a rich 57-year history and an international reputation. NBS’ distinctive pedagogy for its Professional Ballet Program integrates elements from the best in classical ballet training methods, contemporary dance and the latest advances in science and movement. NBS alumni work in 80 companies in Canada and abroad, frequently taking leadership roles as choreographers and artistic directors. NBS also delivers a broader range of community programs than any other professional ballet school in the world. NBS welcomes people with a casual interest in dance (for drop-in sessions at Culture Days), people with a serious recreational interest in ballet (Associates Program and Adult Ballet), and people who pursue dance for fun, fitness, and well-being at any age (the Sharing Dance community engagement program).

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Whether training elite, Olympic-calibre ballet dancers or promoting the benefits of dance to people of all ages and abilities in the wider community, NBS demonstrates the relevance of dance and improves quality of life.

PROFESSIONAL BALLET PROGRAM NBS is the only ballet academy in North America to provide dance training, academic education, and residential care on the same campus for students from Grade 6 through the Post-Secondary level. As talent is the sole criterion for entry, every student has access to the highest level of training regardless of family finances or geography. TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM Dance majors and professional dancers become teachers or ballet masters with the NBS Teaching Diploma and either RAD or Cecchetti qualifications. Joint degree programs with York University (Toronto) or Simon Fraser University (Vancouver) are also available.

ASSOCIATES PROGRAM This part-time program provides afterschool and weekend dance classes to over 400 boys and girls, ages 6 to 17 year of age. ADULT BALLET PROGRAM Nearly 700 adults of all ages and levels, many with no previous ballet experience, participate in this popular program. Exceptional instruction, live piano accompaniment, state-of-the-art facilities, and personal attention are the hallmarks. SHARING DANCE PROGRAM This program promotes broad public participation in dance for pleasure and for the physical, social, emotional and cultural benefits that dance provides. In particular, it serves healthy school communities with enjoyable dance activity building fundamental movement skills. It also engages seniors, including those with Parkinson’s disease or dementia, with activity that improves health and quality of life.

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Celia Franca, CC, LLD, DCL, DFA Betty Oliphant, CC, LLD, DLitt

Executive Leadership Artistic Director & CEO Mavis Staines, C.M., DHumL Executive Director Cathryn Gregor

Board of Directors Chair John F. (Jack) Petch, QC, LLD Alodie Brew Ann Lawson-Brehl John Baker Norma Bandler Moira Bartram* David Binet* Carol Darling Adrienne Down Coulson Duane Green Sally Hannon

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Karen Kain* CC, LLD, LLT, OOnt Michelle Koerner Kenneth McCarter Brian Miron* Juanita Montalvo Ed Ogonek Craig Pho Bradley Powell Tanya Taylor Michael Vels * ex-officio Director

Canada’s National Ballet School Foundation President Moira Bartram Alodie Brew Frances Carmichael Alison Gilbert Pierre Lapointe Mary Susanne Lamont Jerry Lozinski Arlene O’Neill Anne-Mette de Place Filippini Robert Reeves Monica Shin Michael von Teichman

Friends of Canada’s National Ballet School President Brian Miron Robert C. Edmonds Jacque Hack Susan Kinney Jessica Lindenfelser Steven Peters

A special thank you to the following donors who have made a significant contribution to NBS via the Annual, Endowment or Gala Fundraising Campaigns in the 2014-15 fiscal year. (as of August 31, 2015) $25,000+ BMO Financial Group William R. and Shirley Beatty Charitable Fund David W. Binet Ann Lawson-Brehl and Paul Brehl Kiki & Ian Delaney The Globe & Mail Lynda Hamilton Lewis Hertzman Christine & Pierre Lapointe

Charitable Registration Number: 10808 9673 RR0001

LesLois Shaw Foundation LIFT Philanthropy Partners Joan & Jerry Lozinski The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C. Brian & Monica Miron Dr. Sylvia Ostry Craig & Mireille Pho RBC Foundation Scotiabank Sherritt International Corporation Estate of Cornelius Anderson Silber Ada W. Slaight Sun Life Financial The Lawrence and Judith Tanenbaum Family Foundation TD Bank Group TD Securities Inc. Heather & Richard Thomson Woodbridge Company Limited $12,500+ Moira Bartram & Joseph Fantl Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Burgundy Asset Management Jamie Cameron & Christopher Bredt

D2L Corporation Lindsay Dale-Harris Delaney Capital Management Deloitte & Touche LLP Ernst & Young LLP Estée Lauder Companies Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Franklin Templeton Investments Gardiner Roberts LLP Richard M. Ivey Hal Jackman Foundation Michelle Koerner & Kevin Doyle Sharon Koor KPMG MSLP Manulife Janine & Troy Maxwell Parkview Capital Partners Inc. PwC Canada RBC Capital Markets Jean M. Read Reuven International Limited Roy O’Connor LLP Somerset Graphics Co. Ltd. Tanya Taylor Torys LLP Bruce and Elizabeth Walter The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation Judith R. Wilder

an Ontario government agency un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

Photo, this page: 45DEGREES, Cirque de Soleil Group. Credit: Aaron Vincent Elkaim and Galit Rodan. All other photos: Aleksandar Antonijevic, Jackielou Perez, Johan Persson, Cylla von Tiedemann, Bruce Zinger.

Founders

ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS There are many places around the world that offer great ballet training, but few are committed to developing artists in the way that I experienced at Canada’s National Ballet School. As a student, I was not only trained technically to seek employment in the competitive ballet market, but I was encouraged to keep my mind and spirit equally as sharp. The school’s strict academic requirements no doubt helped to facilitate this, but this was complimented by a climate of respect for independent thought that I think is particularly unusual for a ballet school. The result for me was that I was not only able to fulfill my dream of dancing professionally, but also take my training beyond my dance career. Rachel Bar, Class of ’02

In my years as a professional ballet dancer, I have crossed paths with many talents, but rarely have I met such courageous artists as NBS graduates. Their approach to dance is wholehearted, open and porous. On top of an impeccable technique, they possess a strong sense of self which imbues their dancing with personality and purpose. These artists truly have a message to deliver, and they do so with aplomb.

Guillaume Côté and Heather Ogden in Romeo and Juliet Photo by Johan Persson, Courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada

My transition to the National Ballet of Canada went quite smoothly because I was given such good preparation at the School. I already knew my environment, staff and colleagues, and had been given so many skills that prepared me … Coming to Canada’s National Ballet School really changed my life. Guillaume Côté, Class of ’98

Photo: Gert Weigelt

What Canada’s National Ballet School instills in these students is unique in the ballet world. The institution has become adaptive. It does not only adapt to the current times, it also takes into account the students’ unique needs, supports their right to individuality and artistic ownership, and promotes a healthy attitude towards dance. Louisa Rachedi, Class of ’03

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Canada’s National Ballet School 400 Jarvis St. Toronto, ON M4Y 2G6 416.964.3780 www.nbs-enb.ca @NBS_ENB