stewart james
VIEW TRANSCRIPTS OF LETTERS
Early in 1950, James contacted Aileen Woods about an idea he and Boris Volkoff had for creating a national ballet company based in Toronto. In this letter from February 1950 and the following budget, we see how Stewart James was the true initiator of a project that would ultimately grow into a board of directors called the National Ballet Guild and a professional company originally called the Canadian National Ballet. The initial concept listed Boris Volkoff as artistic director and a later document listed Gweneth Lloyd as the Resident Choreographer. During the summer of 1950, James travelled to London, England, to learn more about the administrative structure of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet and to search for a possible ballet mistress for this new Canadian company. A dancer and choreographer named Celia Franca was recommended and was invited to attend the Canadian Ballet Festival in Montreal in November 1950. By this time, the Guild had dropped the idea of ballet mistress and had asked Franca to consider the artistic directorship. Franca felt there was potential for a company in Canada and returned in February 1951 to work with the Guild to develop what had been a long-standing dream for Canadian dancers. Stewart James was the first manager of the National Ballet of Canada. (Letter from Jim Bolsby Collection)
transcriptS
Dear Mrs. Woods;
This great stir caused by the current project of the amalgamation of the smaller communities around Toronto with Toronto, itself, is reassuring proof of the conscious interest of the people in their city’s development. We, in our small sphere, also have the development of the city in mind – though not on such gigantic proportions. Our endeavour is not on the political side, however, but on the ‘cultural’ part of our living.
In Toronto many aspects of ‘culture’ are well and graciously established. This has not been, necessarily, an easy task; but has been achieved by hard work and full co-operation of groups of responsible, public spirited people, of artists, and of an appreciative people. It has been done more than once. It can be done again. It could be done to form a Ballet Company.
We feel that the time has come when Toronto needs, wants, and is willing to support a company. Knowing of your sincere interest in and support of Canadian dancers, I would like to discuss this matter with you before I speak to anyone else. We, I speak for Mr. Volkoff and Volkoff Canadian Ballet, would like to give what we have to offer for the betterment of the Dance here in the city.
May I call you this Friday, the 10th.? I believe that you would be interested in the ideas that we have compiled. It is the nucleus of the thoughts, knowledge, and experience as given to me by the various persons I have worked with this last year. From this we hope that something concrete can be developed and organised.
Unless I hear that it is not convenient I shall call at your home around 2 o’clock on Friday afternoon.
Yours sincerely,
S. J. [Stewart James]
Feb. 8, 1950
Volkoff Canadian Ballet
782 Yonge Street
Toronto Ontario
KI. 2918
This is the proposed set up for a small company in Toronto:
Board of Directors
Ballet Committee
Artistic Director $3000.00 Boris Volkoff
Music Director $16/1800.00 Margaret Clemens
Publicity & Contact $2000/2500.00 Janet Baldwin
Ballet Mistress $2000/2500.00 ??
Business Manager $2000/2500.00 Stewart James
Dancers $12,000.00 to be chosen from Canadian dancers
minimum 10
maximum 16 $19,200.00
Wardrobe temporarily Janet Baldwin
Office personnel temporarily Stewart James
TOTAL $22,600 / 39,600.00
This is based on a 40 week season for the entire personnel. The salaries of the dancers are based as a $30.00 a week average.