Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s artistic director to step down in 2025, ending 50-year career – Winnipeg
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s longtime artistic director has announced that he will step down in 2025 after a 50-year career with Canada’s oldest ballet company.
André Ruiz was appointed Artistic Director of The Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1996 and was also named Chief Executive Officer of the company in 2018.
Lewis began her dance training in Ottawa before enrolling in the professional division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 1975.
Joined the company in 1979, and after building a career as a dancer for 10 years, became a manager.
He said he still remembers his first dance class.
“My sister had a class there and the teacher said to her class, ‘The Nutcracker needs a boy,’ so my mom sent the three of us to a performance,” Lewis said. Told.
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“I love physicality and I love the artistic intent behind that physicality. That’s what got me interested in ballet. I love the ability to move emotions.”
The company said in a statement on Thursday that its board would begin the transition and launch an international hiring plan to recruit a successor.
Lewis’ role will be split in two, with a new person taking over as executive director by June 2023 and artistic director by 2024.
“It’s been something I’ve been thinking about for the last three years or so, what am I going to do, what am I going to do, and I’m going to be 70 at some point — it’s not about age, it’s just about wanting to do other things,” he said. I was.
During company rehearsal The lake of swanLewis looks back on his long career as artistic director, overseeing 30 years of productions and commissioning new works such as: Stars Going Home – Truth and Reconciliationa particular point of pride.
“I have the incredible privilege of serving this organization and serving the people, the students, the dancers and the administrative staff. rice field.”
But Lewis said he doesn’t plan to leave dancing completely, even after retiring. “I think it’s a wonderful aspect of our human endeavours. That artistic aspect makes a difference in cities, countries and regions. I want to keep it going.”
— Using Iris Dyck’s file from Canadian Press and Global
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