Lar lubovitch biography of alberta
If you ask someone in university what they plan to do after graduation, you’ll often hear, “I’m actually not sure yet.” University is a time of developing life goals and cultivating knowledge so that your dreams are one day achieved. Unconventionally, Peggy Baker dropped out of university to pursue her dreams, achieving great successes that contributed to her fame.
Baker got accepted to the University of Alberta department of theatre in 1970. At the time, she was convinced that acting was her calling. However, her time at the U of A introduced her to contemporary dance, which Baker knew she had to pursue.
“I still describe myself as a theatre dropout because I shifted — I made a lateral shift out of acting into dancing. But, I’m so grateful I had that year.”
After dropping out of the U of A, Baker’s notability and reputation in the dance industry only grew, which is shown by her extensive list of awards. Her success eventually allowed her to establish Peggy Baker Dance Projects.
“My teacher Annabelle Gamson told me, ‘if you stay in this field long enough, they’ll have to take you seriously,'” Baker recalled. “I have been unrelenting in my pursuit of uncovering myself within the art form. It’s just longevity.”
Baker was born in Edmonton in 1952. In 1973, she moved to Toronto and began her dance career as an apprentice with the Toronto Dance Theatre. A year later, she was a founding member of Dancemakers. What catapulted her career, however, was joining the Lar Lubovitch New York Dance Company.
“If [that] hadn’t happened, I don’t know where my dance life would have taken me,” Baker said.
Baker’s start with group dance and journey to solo-form
At 28-years-old, under Lubovitch’s company, Baker tasted the worlds of jazz and fame. International tours took Baker to places where audiences “take the adventure of theatre to he
Terané Comito
Director of Education
Terané Comito
As the Director of Education, Terané oversees all functions of the School. Terané is also Head of SNBT’s Pre-Professional Dance Program and its Competition Team. Terané also heads up NBT's Community Education Programs. Currently in its 26th year, Future Dance reaches over 20,000 students a year through its initiatives including GO-MOVE-DANCE!!!, Future Dance Scholar Program and the Dance Discovery Program. Future Dance Program graduates have received opportunities to perform, teach and continue their training with prestigious schools such as the Ailey School in New York City. Terané has facilitated many partnerships including the Las Vegas Academy, where the Dance Discovery Spring Concert was performed. In 2015, the Future Dance Spring Concert moved into The Smith Center, giving over 900 underserved students the chance to perform on a professional stage. Terané has been instrumental in the expansion of NBT’s Community Education programs, including the Student Matinee Series, Storytime, In School Performance Program, Kids Night Out at the Ballet, Ballet Rocks and Dance Discovery Summer Camp — where students who may otherwise be unsupervised and inactive during the summer can now dance in a fun and safe environment.Don Bellamy
Director NBT II
Don Bellamy
Don Bellamy studied dance at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in his hometown of Washington D.C. He then began his career as a core dancer at Capital Ballet in Washington, D.C under the direction of Doris Jones (Jones-Haywood School of Ballet) and Billy Wilson. Don joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under the Direction of Founder, Alvin Ailey. He has been a part of such prestigious companies as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Donald Byrd/The Group, Elisa Monte Dance, and was a part of a collaboration between Dance Theatre of Harlem and New York City Ballet. Don has had the privilege ofPeggy Baker
Canadian dancer, choreographer and teacher
Peggy Laurayne Baker (née Smith; born October 22, 1952) is a Canadian modern dancer, choreographer and teacher. She has been awarded the Order of Canada and she was the first person to receive the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
Life
Baker was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She was the second child of six. She has lived in Canada and the United States.
Education and early work
Baker first studied acting at the University of Alberta. While there Baker was introduced to Modern Dance by Patricia Beatty, one of the founders of the Toronto Dance Theatre. In 1971 she moved to Toronto to study with Beatty at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. After graduating from the school she appeared with the company as a dancer. In 1974 she co-founded the Dancemakers Dance Company. In 1980 she moved to New York City to dance with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. In 1990 she joined Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dance company White Oak Dance Project which re-launched her career as a dancer and choreographer. She performed her first solo concert in 1990 called Le Charme d l'Impossible. It was commissioned by the Canada Dance Festival and premiered at the Winnipeg Dance Festival.
In 1993 she was invited to be the National Ballet School of Canada's first artist-in-residence.
She founded the Peggy Baker Dance Projects to develop solo dance expression. In 1993 she was hired as the National Ballet of Canada's first artist-in-residence to teach, choreograph and stage Lar Lubovitch's work.
Personal life
Baker married her first husband Michael J. Baker in Edmonton before she moved to Toronto.
Baker met her future husband Ahmed Hassan in the 1970s when he composed for some of Baker’s work. They married in 1990 and remained married until his death in 2011 of multiple sclerosis.
Awards
In 2006 Baker was aw
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