Brian MacDonald
Brian MacDonald was a prominent Canadian choreographer and director, born on May 14, 1928, in Montreal, Quebec. He began his artistic journey as a radio actor and later trained as a dancer while pursuing a degree in English at McGill University. MacDonald was a founding member of the National Ballet of Canada and made a significant impact on the Canadian dance scene, particularly during his tenure with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, where he choreographed notable works such as "Rose Latulippe," the first full-length ballet performed in Canada.
His international career included roles as artistic director for various ballet companies, including the Royal Swedish Ballet and the Harkness Ballet in New York. In addition to ballet, MacDonald shifted his focus to opera and musical theater in the 1980s, achieving acclaim for productions like "Madame Butterfly" for the Canadian Opera Company. He was also associated with the Stratford Festival, directing several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. MacDonald received numerous accolades for his contributions to the arts, including being named an Officer and later a Companion of the Order of Canada. His personal life intertwined with his professional one, as he met his wife, ballerina Annette av Paul, during his work in Sweden.
Subject Terms
Brian MacDonald
Choreographer
- Born: May 14, 1928
- Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec
- Died: November 29, 2014
- Place of death: Stratford, Ontario
Contribution: Brian Macdonald is an internationally renowned Canadian choreographer, dancer, and theater director who was a founding member of the National Ballet of Canada. He received numerous awards for his work in Canada, on Broadway, and in other venues.
Early Life and Education
Brian Macdonald was born on May 14, 1928, in Montreal, Quebec. As a child, he worked as a radio actor in Montreal. Later, Macdonald trained as a dancer with Montreal’s top teachers while studying for a bachelor of arts degree in English at McGill University. While at McGill, Macdonald directed and performed in the critically acclaimed satirical revue My Fur Lady. In 1951, he became one of the founding members of the National Ballet of Canada, where he worked and performed for two years before leaving as a result of an arm injury.
Professional Career
Macdonald’s career as a choreographer was solidified in 1958, when he joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. During his long tenure with the company, he choreographed numerous works, including The Darkling in 1958 and Rose Latulippe in 1966. The latter was the first full-length ballet performed in Canada.
On the international scene, Macdonald worked as a choreographer for a number of companies. Between 1964 and 1967, he was artistic director of the Royal Swedish Ballet; from 1967 to 1968, he worked at the Harkness Ballet in New York; between 1971 and 1972, he worked at the Batsheva Dance Company in Israel; and from 1974 to 1977, Macdonald was artistic director at Les Grand Ballets Canadiens, where he also worked as choreographer in residence from 1980 to 1990.
During the 1980s, Macdonald increasingly focused his attention on directing operas and musicals. The 1990 production of Madame Butterfly for the Canadian Opera Company was a high point in his career.
Macdonald also directed numerous operettas and musicals during his time as associate director of the Stratford Festival in Ontario. He staged a number of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, including The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance. A number of the operettas were also televised.
As director of the summer dance program at the Banff Centre for Continuing Education (now the Banff Centre) between 1982 and 2001, Macdonald was involved in the renewal of a professional training program for dance and dancers. The success of the program was established with numerous revivals of his own works as well as those of other well-known choreographers, such as Russian-born choreographer George Balanchine.
Awards
In 1967, Macdonald became an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2002, he was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada. Other awards that Macdonald has received include the Paris International Gold Star for choreography in 1964 and the Molson Prize in 1983. Macdonald was also the inaugural recipient of the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts in 2001.
Personal Life
Macdonald met his wife, Swedish ballerina Annette av Paul, while working at the Royal Swedish Ballet.
Bibliography
Atkey, Mel. Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre. Toronto: Dundurn, 2006. Print.
Jennings, Sarah. Art and Politics: The History of the National Arts Centre. Toronto: Dundurn, 2009. Print.
Kassing, Gayle. History of Dance: An Interactive Arts Approach. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2007. Print.
Neufeld, James. Passion to Dance: The National Ballet of Canada. Toronto: Dundurn, 2011. Print.
Smith-Autard, Jacqueline M. Dance Composition. London: Black, 2010. Print.