national ballet of canada audition tour
VIEW TRANSCRIPTS OF LETTERS
A form letter went out to teachers across the west asking for studio space and dancers to attend auditions. Not everyone appreciated the presumption that the best dancers could simply be pulled from existing schools and organizations. Royal Winnipeg Ballet co-founder Betty Farrally makes it clear that several loyal dancers would be staying in Winnipeg as she responds to the form letter during her summer vacation. (Letters from the Jim Bolsby Collection)
transcriptS
St. Lawrence Hall,
157 ½ King Street East,
Toronto, Ontario,
August 16th, 1951
Dear
I am happy to announce that plans for the formation of the Canadian National Ballet Company are almost complete.
Rehearsal with the Company of 28 dancers will commence in September in Toronto and the opening of three performances at the Eaton Auditorium, Toronto, in November will precede a Southern Ontario tour. It is the wish of the Directors of the National Ballet Guild of Canada that the best dancers from across the country be given the opportunity to audition for the Company.
With the purpose of holding auditions, I shall visit the following towns:-
Arrive Vancouver – 11:30 a.m. Sunday, August 19th.
Leave Vancouver – 7:30 a.m. Thursday, August 23rd.
Will stay at Hotel Georgia.
Dance headquarters will be ℅ Miss K. Armstrong,
B.C. School of Dancing, 887 Seymour St.
Arrive Victoria – 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 22nd.
Leave Victoria – 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 22nd.
Dance headquarters will be Wynne Shaw Dance Studio,
Room 306, Hamley Building, 602 Broughton St.
Arrive Calgary – 10:45 a.m. Thursday, August 23rd.
Leave Calgary – 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 24th.
Will stay at the Hotel Palliser
Dance headquarters will be Valda Studio, 1804 9th St. W.
Arrive Edmonton – 5:45 p.m. Friday, August 24th.
Leave Edmonton – 12:00 noon Sunday, August 26th.
Will stay at the Macdonald Hotel
Dance headquarters will be Heavener Dance Studios, Tower Building
Arrive Saskatoon – 1:45 p.m. Sunday, August 26th.
Leave Saskatoon – 7:55 a.m. Tuesday, August 28th.
Will stay at the Bessborough Hotel
Dance headquarters will be in ℅ Miss Shirley Whittet, 3rd. Avenue.
Arrive Regina – 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, August 28th.
Leave Regina – 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, August 29th.
Will stay at Hotel Saskatchewan
Dance headquarters will be ℅ Mr. Reg. Hawe, Apt. 26, Crescent Ave.
Arrive Brandon – 12:20 noon Wednesday, August 29th.
Leave Brandon – 12:25 noon Thursday, August 30th.
Will stay at Prince Edward Hotel
Dance headquarters will be Esquire Dancing Academy,
338 10th. Ave.
Arrive Winnipeg – 1:20 p.m. Thursday, August 30th.
Leave Winnipeg – 5:30 p.m. Sunday, September 2nd.
Will stay at the Marlborough Hotel
Dance headquarters will be Winnipeg Ballet, 491½ Main St.
Would you kindly contact any students from your studio who may wish to audition. Your co-operation in this matter will be greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to meeting you and discussing the promising future of Canadian Ballet.
Yours sincerely,
Celia Franca
Managing Director,
National Ballet Guild of Canada.
The Winnipeg Ballet
339 4th Avenue
Victoria Beach
Manitoba
18.8.51
Celia Franca
Managing Director
National Ballet Guild of Canada
St. Lawrence Hall
Toronto
Dear Celia,
I only received your letter and telegram last night. I had been in Winnipeg and as my mail throughout the summer has been forwarded here, there was a huge stack of it awaiting me yesterday – the telegram was sitting on the doorstep!! I sent Richard, my small son, up to the station with the answer but as they are noted for their stupidity I dread to think what eventually reached you.
As you probably know, we, as a company, will continue as such this coming season – the dancers are to receive more salary and I am to have sixteen of them – the theatre for the Winnipeg shows is booked and our season’s programme mapped out, therefore I want the strongest company possible – after the Festival I waited for a long time to see what was going to happen with regard to the National Company but finally decided it was only fair to our board and the dancers to go ahead with this year’s plans.
Down here I am completely out of touch with the other dancers in Winnipeg. In any case, I feel that one day or even half a day would see anything worthwhile, however I may be wrong but I think David Adams would say the same – actually we have very few Winnipeg people in the company as most of them are married.
I hear that you have just got married. May I wish you both every happiness.
I think either Gweneth Lloyd or myself will be back in town by August 29th so will see you then – if there is anything I can do other than provide you with dancers, please let me know.
Yours sincerely,
Betty Farrally