For his contribution to ballet as Choreographer of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Ballet.
Companion of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2001-10-18
Invested on: 2002-10-26
He is an internationally renowned choreographer, director and dancer. He brought his passion, leadership and tremendous versatility to institutions such as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Stratford Festival. A staunch promoter of Canadian talent, he uses Canadian composers, designers and themes in his work. He has also mounted numerous productions for foreign companies, most recently Petrushka for the Gothenburg Ballet in Sweden. In addition, he has become a mentor to generations of dancers and designed programs for the National Theatre School. This is a promotion within the Order.