Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Oliphant, Betty, 1918-2004
2. Augustyn, Frank.
3. Kain, Karen.
4. Lamy, Martine.
5. Potts, Nadia.
6. Harwood, Vanessa.
7. Tennant, Veronica.
8. Neufeld, James E., 1944-
9. Littler, William.
10. Reiser, Wendy.
11. Ransom, Jeremy.
12. Glasco, Kimberly.
13. Persson, Johan.
14. Oxenham, Andrew, 1945-
15. Harrington, Rex.
16. Fraser, John, 1944-
17. Greben, Stanley E.
18. Tapper, Jaimie.
19. Desrosiers, Robert.
20. Gauvreau, Gil.
21. Clarkson, Adrienne, 1939-
22. Book, Rick.
23. National Ballet of Canada.
24. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Description

1. 1 videocassette (VHS, NTSC) (55 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences; 1/2 in.

Summary

1. Profile of Betty Oliphant, founder and guiding light of Canada's National Ballet School. Oliphant herself tells much of her own story, beginning with her childhood ballet training in her native England; the influence of legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova; her marriage and move to Canada; and the circumstances that led her to open her first ballet school in Toronto. She recalls how she joined forces with British ballerina Celia Franca to establish the National Ballet School, the training ground for the newly formed National Ballet of Canada. She examines and compares the impact of Russian dancers Rudolf Nureeyv and Mikhail Baryshnikov, both of whom appeared as guest artists with the company. Also discussed are her bout with depression in later life and the psychotherapy that enabled her to surmount it; the realization of her dream of her own theater; her retirement in 1989; the publication of her autobiography [Miss O: my life in dance, 1996]; her continuing involvement in the dance world; and the various awards and honors she has received. Throughout the program her former students, many of whom danced with the National Ballet of Canada, present their remembrances of her.

Donor/Sponsor

1. Gift of the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation.

Series statement

1. Rudolf Nureyev Collection

Subject

1. Oliphant, Betty, 1918-2004
2. Franca, Celia, 1921-2007
3. Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993
4. Baryshnikov, Mikhail, 1948-
5. National Ballet School (Canada) > History
6. National Ballet of Canada
7. Dance teachers > Canada > Biography

Genre/Form

1. Dance.
2. Biographies.
3. Video.

Call number

1. *MGZIA 4-4393 RNC

Credits (note)

1. Editing, Catherine Mallia ; executive producer, Adrienne Clarkson.

Title

1. Betty Oliphant [videorecording] : a life in dance / Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ; directed and produced by Gil Gauvreau.

Imprint

1. Canada : Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, c1999.

Series

1. Rudolf Nureyev Collection

Credits

1. Editing, Catherine Mallia ; executive producer, Adrienne Clarkson.

Performer

1. Host: Adrienne Clarkson.
2. Narrator: Rick Book.
3. Interviewees: Betty Oliphant, with Frank Augustyn, Karen Kain, Martine Lamy, Nadia Potts, Vanessa Harwood, Veronica Tennant, Gail Sadava, James Neufeld, William Littler, Wendy Reiser, Jeremy Ransom, Kimberly Glasco, Johan Persson, Andrew Oxenham, Rex Harrington, John Fraser, Dr. Stanley Greben, and Jaimie Tapper. Robert Desrosiers is seen giving a speech at an awards ceremony.

Added author

1. Oliphant, Betty, 1918-2004, interviewee.
2. Augustyn, Frank. Interviewee
3. Kain, Karen. Interviewee
4. Lamy, Martine. Interviewee
5. Potts, Nadia. Interviewee
6. Harwood, Vanessa. Interviewee
7. Tennant, Veronica. Interviewee
8. Neufeld, James E., 1944- Interviewee
9. Littler, William. Interviewee
10. Reiser, Wendy. Interviewee
11. Ransom, Jeremy. Interviewee
12. Glasco, Kimberly. Interviewee
13. Persson, Johan. Interviewee
14. Oxenham, Andrew, 1945- Interviewee
15. Harrington, Rex. Interviewee
16. Fraser, John, 1944- Interviewee
17. Greben, Stanley E. Interviewee
18. Tapper, Jaimie. Interviewee
19. Desrosiers, Robert. Speaker
20. Gauvreau, Gil. Director. Producer
21. Clarkson, Adrienne, 1939- Producer. Host
22. Book, Rick. Narrator
23. National Ballet of Canada.
24. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Research call number

1. *MGZIA 4-4393 RNC