Evelyn Hart
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Evelyn Anne Hart (born April 4, 1956) is a Canadian
ballerina A ballet dancer is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. Ballet dancer ...
and former principal dancer with the
Royal Winnipeg Ballet The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. History It was founded in 1939 as the "Winnipeg Ballet Club" by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally (who also fou ...
.


Life and career

Born in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Hart studied dance at the Dorothy Carter School of Dance in London, Ontario, Canada, and later at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Before attending the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Hart auditioned for The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. She was accepted for its preliminary intensive summer session of auditioning for consideration as a student in the year's intensive academic/professional training program, where students train for its parent company the
National Ballet of Canada The National Ballet of Canada is a Canadian ballet company that was founded in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario, with Celia Franca, the first artistic director. A company of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, the National Ballet has been led since 2022 ...
. Hart did not secure a place for the school year at the National Ballet School, mostly due to her problems with anorexia nervosa. Hart battled with this pathological eating disorder before returning to ballet, training again, and winning a place for herself at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company in 1976, was promoted to soloist in 1978, and to principal dancer in 1979. She was the first Canadian to win gold at the Varna International Ballet Competition in
Varna, Bulgaria Varna (, ) is the List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, third-largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and in the Northern Bulgaria region. Situated strategically in the Gulf of Varna, t ...
in 1980 for the pas de deux ''Belong'' choreographed by Norbert Vesak. Hart starred in the ballet film ''Moment of Light'', alongside Rex Harrington, former principal dancer of the
National Ballet of Canada The National Ballet of Canada is a Canadian ballet company that was founded in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario, with Celia Franca, the first artistic director. A company of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, the National Ballet has been led since 2022 ...
, and Robert Sher-Machherndl, former principal dancer of the Dutch National Ballet and Bavarian State Ballet. The film was released in 1992. In 2005, Hart left the RWB to dance as a freelance artist. On August 23, 2006, she danced her
swan song The swan song (; ) is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful song just before their death while they have been ...
at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. She also danced as a guest artist with Toronto's ProArteDanza ending a thirty-year career.


Honours

In 1983, Hart was made an
Officer of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian national order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the centennial of Canadian Confederation, the ...
(OC) and was promoted to Companion (CC) in 1994. In 2000 she was inducted into
Canada's Walk of Fame Canada's Walk of Fame () in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of Canadians who have excelled in their respective fields. It is a series of maple leaf-like stars embedded in 13 de ...
. In 2001, Hart received a
Governor General's Performing Arts Award The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards are an annual Canadian award, presented to honour distinguished achievements in Canadian performing arts and culture. Administered by the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation in associ ...
for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts. In 2006, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She was made a Member of the Order of Manitoba (OM) in 2006.


Further reading

*


References


External links


FOOTNOTES - Evelyn HartCanada's Walk of Fame: Evelyn HartEvelyn Hart departs Royal Winnipeg Ballet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hart, Evelyn 1956 births Living people Canadian ballerinas Canadian female dancers Companions of the Order of Canada Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Members of the Order of Manitoba Dancers from Toronto Prima ballerinas Governor General's Award winners