Performance centre for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Manitoba Opera and such travelling shows as Les Misérables and Phantom of The Opera.For information call: 1-204-956-1360
Founded in 1939 by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the double distinction of being Canada's premier ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. The company has been inspiring and molding dancers for 60 years, and to this day upholds the rigid standards set then.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is known for its versatility, technical excellence, and captivating style, and it is these qualities that delight critics and audiences alike.
"One of the great pleasures of dance-going is seeing performers who not only know what they are doing but look as if they love doing it too... the Royal Winnipeg Ballet succeeds to an impressive extent in proving it can dance in just about any style," said the New York Times.
Housed in their own building, the RWB is among the most prestigious dance companies in the world, and is probably the most travelled, having performed in more than 500 cities in 40 countries. The company's members have won several medals (including gold) at Varna, the premier ballet competition in the world, and some dancers, such as Evelyn Hart , have achieved international stardom!
Tours are available free of charge.
Canada's fourth largest symphony orchestra performs at the Centennial Concert Hall under the direction of Artistic Director and Maestro Bramwell Tovey. Programming consists of four Classics series, Musically Speaking with its thematic programming, MTS Pops, the real Canadian Superconcerts For Kids, Baroque concerts, the internationally acclaimed du Maurier New Music Festival, and a sparkling array of special concerts through the season, including the annual Crown Royal Evening. As well, the WSO offers a concert season for Brandon, Manitoba, drawn from the Classics series. The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is the only Canadian orchestra that has an annual New Music Festival of international standing. Through the Adventures in Music series, elementary-school students in the Winnipeg region enjoy the opportunity to hear the full orchestra in the Centennial Concert Hall in hour-long concerts supplemented by educational materials. In addition to its own season, the orchestra performs with Manitoba Opera and the world-renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Winnipeg lays claim to over 50 resident theatre companies, lead by the Manitoba Theatre Centre. Since its founding in 1957 as Canada's first Englishlanguage regional theatre, the Manitoba Theatre Centre has gained critical acclaim and international recognition in its presentation of over 300 productions at both the Mainstage and the MTC Warehouse Theatre.
In addition to the eleven plays produced each season, the Theatre presents productions throughout the country for junior and senior high school students. In 1987, MTC launched its first annual Winnipeg Fringe Festival, which attracted 30,000 people, making it the most successful debut of any such festival in Canada. Attendance increased to 81,000 in the Festival's third year.
The Manitoba Theatre Centre season runs from October to May, while the Winnipeg Fringe Festival takes place during the third week of July. Tickets for MTC productions at both the Mainstage and MTC Warehouse may be obtained through the MTC Box Office at 1-204-942-6537.
General information may be obtained by contacting the general office at 1-204-956-1340
To answer student and rural community outreach needs and broaden audience base, Manitoba Opera on Tour presents short and abridged opera throughout Manitoba in the spring of each year.
Joann Alexander-Smith, General Director, manages the Company with a staff of three and with input from a strong and active Board of Directors.
For further information, call 1-204-942-7479.