Raymond Smith (dancer) explained

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. He also appeared as a contemporary dancer with the Desrosiers Dance Theatre at the Calgary Olympic Arts Festival in 1988.[10] His decade-long stage partnership with ballerina Veronica Tennant was particularly admired by critics.[11] [2]

Smith retired from the stage in May 1995, following a performance as one of the Stepsisters[12] in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella.[2] He subsequently worked as a ballet master for Ontario Ballet Theatre,[13] Ballet BC[14] and BalletMet.[15] Since 2004 he has been on the faculty of Canada's National Ballet School.[16] [17] [18]

Repertoire

Smith's repertoire included La Sylphide (James), Napoli (Gennaro),[19] Giselle (Count Albrecht),[20] Coppélia (Franz),[21] Swan Lake (Prince),[22] [23] The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund,[24] [25] Bluebird[26]), Celia Franca's production of The Nutcracker (Prince),[27] Don Quixote (Basilio),[28] [29] the third act of Raymonda (Jean de Brienne),[30] Michel Fokine's Les Sylphides[7] and Le Spectre de la rose,[7] Frederick Ashton's Romeo and Juliet (Romeo, Mercutio[31]), La Fille mal gardée (Colas)[32] and The Two Pigeons (Young Man),[33] John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet (Romeo),[34] [35] [36] Onegin (Lensky,[37] Onegin[38] [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]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Neufeld. James. Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. 2011. Dundurn Press. Toronto. 978-145-970-1212. 440.
  2. Walker, Susan. "Final role puts dancer through hoops", Toronto Star, 6 May 1995, p. H2
  3. News: Belanger. Joe. Victoria Carter has helped shape a generation of dancers. 11 January 2017. London Free Press. 13 May 2016.
  4. "Ballet gaining as career for boys", Globe and Mail, 18 May 1971, p. 14
  5. Book: Neufeld. James. Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. 2011. Dundurn Press. Toronto. 978-145-970-1212. 124.
  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. Web site: Romeo e Giulietta . 7 August 2023 . www.teatroallascala.org.
  10. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. Desrosiers in Calgary. 2022-08-10 . The New York Times . C13 . 23 February 1988.
  11. News: New National Ballet pairing blends power and elegance . Currie . Rod . Montreal Gazette. Toronto . H10 . 25 February 1989 . 2022-08-10 . Newspapers.com.
  12. Littler, William. "As ballet, Cinderella's still a pumpkin and 4 rodents", Toronto Star, 12 May 1995, p. C11
  13. Walker, Susan. "Witkowsky to leave ballet after years in Kain's shadow", Toronto Star, 9 May 1996, p. G8
  14. News: New Ballet Master . Inwood . Damian . . B2 . 8 October 1997 . 2022-08-10 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Spaner. Whitney. Ballet director turns tragedy to triumph. 3 January 2017. The Lantern. 2 December 2002.
  16. Web site: Raymond Smith . 7 August 2023 . Canada's National Ballet School.
  17. News: Wong. Julia. Plies and pointe: young ballet dancers dream big. 2022-08-10. Global News . Halifax . 19 November 2013.
  18. News: Ricci . Talia . 19 September 2019 . For first time in history of Canada's National Ballet School, more boys than girls will graduate . CBC News . 7 August 2023.
  19. News: Kisselgoff . Anna . Schaufuss' Bournonville in Canada . 2022-08-10 . The New York Times . 22 November 1981.
  20. Godfrey, Stephen. "Twin versions of Giselle a study in contrast", Globe and Mail, 23 November 1981, p. 20
  21. Kelly, Deirdre. "Ballet a frilly postcard lacking spark", Globe and Mail, 15 February 1991, p. D4
  22. Godfrey, Stephen. "Tennant's first flutter wins audience over", Globe and Mail, 7 March 1980, p. 15
  23. Godfrey, Stephen. "2 Swans like night and day", Globe and Mail, 20 August 1981, p. 19
  24. Gildiner, Alina. "Evil fairy bedevils Sleeping Beauty", Globe and Mail, 25 November 1982, p. E9
  25. Gildiner, Alina. "Sleeping Beauty is awake at last", Globe and Mail, 14 May 1984, p. M11
  26. News: Dunning. Jennifer. Augustyn as Florimund. 2022-08-10. The New York Times . C16 . 9 July 1979.
  27. "Annual show wasn't always what it was cracked up to be", Toronto Star, 16 December 1989, p. J8
  28. Gardiner, Alina. "Robust and comic, Don Quixote is a joy", Globe and Mail, 18 August 1983, p. 20
  29. News: Ballet overwhelms with intoxicating beauty . Scott . Michael . . C10 . 16 October 1992 . 2022-08-10 . Newspapers.com.
  30. Littler, William. "National's mixed bill gets mixed report card", Toronto Star, 27 February 1987, p. D22
  31. News: Testa. Alberto. 'Romeo e Giulietta' davvero di gran classe. 11 January 2017. La repubblica. 23 March 1986.
  32. Godfrey, Stephen. "National's fall season had its ups and downs", Globe and Mail, 1 December 1980, p. 15
  33. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. 'Two Pigeons,' By Ashton, in Toronto. 2022-08-10 . The New York Times . C14 . 5 March 1979.
  34. Godfrey, Stephen. "Dancers faithful to old romance", Globe and Mail, 25 February 1980, p. 15
  35. Kelly, Deirdre. "Tennant bows out in a blaze of glory", Globe and Mail, 14 February 1989, p. A17
  36. Littler, William. "New Juliet remarkably mature", Toronto Star, 29 April 1993, p. F7
  37. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. Toronto Festival Offers National Ballet. 2022-08-10 . The New York Times . C17 . 18 June 1984.
  38. Crabb, Michael. "Tennant and Smith burn up ballet stage", Toronto Star, 5 May 1988, p. B2
  39. Kelly, Deirdre. "Tennant meets Onegin's challenge in a spine-tingling performance", Globe and Mail, 6 May 1988, p. C9
  40. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. Canadians In 'Onegin' At the Met. 2022-08-10. The New York Times . C22 . 26 July 1988.
  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. News: Cute's the word for this Taming of the Shrew . Doruyter . Renee . . B36 . 15 October 1993 . 2022-08-10 . 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. News: Dunning. Jennifer. Canada's 'Widow'. 2022-08-10 . The New York Times . C14 . 9 April 1987.
  47. Littler, William. "The Widow waltzes on with flowers of spring", Toronto Star, 30 April 1992, p. B13
  48. Web site: http://arthaus-musik.com/dvd/musik/ballett/media/details/the_merry_widow-1.html?tx_axdvds_pi1[page=5&cHash=7586d4af2f62bab10e24ffc4cffca1e6 The Merry Widow]. Arthaus Musik. 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. News: Ballet Group Puts On Enthusiastic Performance . Nicol . Wendy . . 25 . 17 May 1989 . 2022-08-10 . Newspapers.com.
  55. Book: Neufeld. James. Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. 2011. Dundurn Press. Toronto. 978-145-970-1212. 254.
  56. Littler, William. "Tetley pulls second white rabbit from hat", Toronto Star, 26 November 1987, p. B5
  57. News: Segal. Lewis. National Ballet of Canada Does Tetley's 'Alice'. 2022-08-10. Los Angeles Times. 30 May 1988.
  58. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. New Cast in 'La Ronde' By the Canadian Ballet. 2022-08-10. The New York Times. 24 July 1988.
  59. News: La Ronde highlights National Ballet show . Hickman . Susan . . C4 . 5 October 1989 . 2022-08-10 . Newspapers.com.
  60. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. In Toronto, an Experiment for the National Ballet. 2022-08-10. The New York Times . C17 . 17 May 1989.
  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. Book: Blue Snake. WorldCat. 83792509 . 3 January 2017.
  65. News: Kisselgoff. Anna. 'Sylphide' Upstaged in Toronto. 2022-08-10. The New York Times . C15 . 9 March 1981.
  66. Book: Neufeld. James. Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. 2011. Dundurn Press. Toronto. 978-145-970-1212. 280.
  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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