Founder of the National Ballet of Canada dies at age 85
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
- 26 January 2012: 'Davos man' versus 'Camp Igloo'; 42nd World Economic Forum convenes in Swiss alps
- 13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world
- 4 January 2012: Suspect arrested in Los Angeles arson rampage case
- 25 November 2011: Scientists sequence small genome of a pest: spider mite
- 22 October 2011: Canadian actress Barbara Kent dies at age 103
|
|
To write, edit, start or view other Canada articles, see the Canada Portal |
Celia Franca, founder of the National Ballet of Canada and its training ground, the National Ballet School of Canada, died at age 85 Monday in Ottawa, Ontario.
She is reported to have died in an Ottawa Hospital and her cause of death is not known. She went to the hospital last week and stayed there until she had died.
"Celia was more than the National Ballet's founder. She was its presiding spirit, its most stalwart supporter and the embodiment of its ideals and values," said Karen Kain, the National Ballet of Canada's current artistic director. "She inspired generations of dancers by her example and her devotion to the art of ballet. And most importantly, she made us believe in ourselves and that no goal was ever out of reach."
Franca, born 1921 in London, England, came to Canada in 1951 to found the National Ballet of Canada. Franca choreographed ballets in Canada such as the famous "Cinderella" and "The Nutcracker." She was artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada for 24 years.
In 1967, Franca was named an officer of the Order of Canada, then named a Companion of the order in 1985.
Sources
- Ryan Flinn. "Celia Franca, Founder of the National Ballet of Canada, Dies" — Bloomberg L.P., February 19, 2007
- "National Ballet founder Celia Franca dies at 85" — CTV, February 19, 2007
- Sandra Martin. "National Ballet founder dies at 85" — The Globe and Mail, February 19, 2007
