Ballet Kelowna’s History

At the invitation of the Canadian School of Ballet (CSB), David LaHay, former Associate Director of the Summer Dance Programme at The Banff Centre and former Ballet Master and principal dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (Montreal), came to Kelowna to explore the establishment of a professional ballet company to carry on the legacy of CSB and Royal Winnipeg Ballet founders Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally. As a result, Ballet Kelowna was incorporated in 2002. Enjoying the use of studio and office space at CSB, and with a committed Board of Directors, David invited six young ballet dancers to come to Kelowna and begin their professional careers. The Company produced its first program in Fall 2003 performing in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon, as well as participating in the Canadian School of Ballet’s annual Nutcracker performances.

Since its inception in 2002, Ballet Kelowna produces two full-length programs in the Spring and Fall each year and has expanded its geographic reach to include Chilliwack, Cranbrook, Creston, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Golden, Grand Forks, Lake Country, Merritt, Nelson, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Prince George, Princeton, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm. Summerland, Trail, Vernon, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and in 2008 Grand Prairie, Alberta as well as the Lower Mainland. Ballet Kelowna is recognized as the Cultural Ambassador for the City of Kelowna as stated by Mayor Sharon Shepherd.

In keeping with its mission to invest in the future of dance, Ballet Kelowna has invited five choreographers, Josh Beamish, D.A. Hoskins, Joe Laughlin, Simone Orlando and Vicki St. Denis to create new work with the company and mounted world premiers by these artists. In addition to mounting ten new works by Artistic Director, David LaHay, works by Kay Armstrong, Brian Macdonald, and Nesta Toumine were or are being re-staged. Each season is now comprised of over 50 performances in more than 25 communities throughout British Columbia. Audiences total over 13,000.

The Board and Artistic Director have sustained the company with balanced budgets and strong fiscal management practices. They have financed the Company’s growth with successful fund development activities, including grant writing, an annual gala, car raffle, season and performance sponsorships, ticket sales and a membership program. In 2005, the Board established an endowment fund with the Central Okanagan Foundation, which now has assets of more than $60,000. Ballet Kelowna’s budget for FY 2008 contemplates expenditures of $600,000.