James Kudelka
James Kudelka, OC (born September 10, 1955 at Newmarket, Ontario), is a Canadian choreographer, dancer, and director.[1] He was the artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada from 1996 to 2005,[1] now serving as the National Ballet's artist in residence.[2]
Biography
Kudelka began choreographing while a student at the National Ballet School. He gained critical attention for dramatic ballets such as A Party (1976) and Washington Square (1979).
Les Grand Ballet Canadiens
Frustrated by what he saw as a lack of creative commitment at the National Ballet, Kudelka joined Les Grands Ballet Canadiens in 1981 where he was a principal dancer. There his choreography changed toward a less dramatic style in works such as In Paradisum (1983) and Alliances (1984).[1]
He was resident choreographer of Les Grands Ballets from 1984 to 1990, while also creating works for other companies such as the Joffrey Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.
Artistic Director
Kudelka returned to the National Ballet of Canada as artist in residence in 1992.[1][2] Kudelka reworked The Nutcracker, for the National Ballet in 1995.[1] The production's success led Kudelka to be appointed artistic director after Reid Anderson resigned due to frustration over government funding cuts.[1]
As artistic director, Kudelka commissioned works from Dominique Dumais and Matjash Mrozewski and from Montréal modernist Jean-Pierre Perreault.[3] He also continued to choreograph for the company, including new versions of Swan Lake and Cinderella.[4] He also several pieces from George Balanchine.[1]
In October 1998, Kudelka took his company on a critically acclaimed tour to New York and on a United States tour in 2004.[1]
Wrongful Dismissal Suit
In 1998, principal dancer Kimberly Glasco filed a wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada instigated because artistic director Kudelka dropped her from the company roster, allegedly because Glasco had questioned the allocation of funds for his version of Swan Lake.[5] She said that Kudelka told her he was letting her go because she had opposed his plans to spend $1.6 million on the new production and because she had opposed his appointment as artistic director. At the time, the National was nearly $3 million in debt.[6][5] Glasco also filed complaints with Ontario's Labour Relations Board and Human Rights Commission.[6]
Kudelka maintained that her contract was not renewed for artistic and financial reasons. He alleged that her dancing was not as strong as it had been and that her dismissal was part of a larger strategy to expand the size of the ballet when cutbacks had reduced its budget from $16 million to $14 million.[6] The company's founder Celia Franca and executive director Valerie Wilder spoke out in support of the artistic director. Glasco had the support of former National star Vanessa Harwood, Canadian Auto Workers boss Buzz Hargrove, Dr. Nancy Olivieri and Betty Oliphant.[6]
On March 18, 1999, the National agreed to meet Glasco for private mediation which replaced both the Labour Relations complaint and lawsuit. The case was reportedly settled for $1.6 million in Glasco's favour.[5]
Resident Choreographer
He resigned as artistic director in 2005, being succeeded by retired ballet dancer and artistic associate Karen Kain.[2][1] He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada the same year.[1] Kudelka now serves as the National Ballet's artist in residence.[2]
In 2008, he was named resident choreographer for the contemporary dance company Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, which performs both existing and new works.[1]
In Media
He was profiled in Moze Mossanen's 1987 documentary film Dance for Modern Times, alongside David Earle, Christopher House, Ginette Laurin and Danny Grossman.[7]
Personal Life
Selected choreographed works
- 1990 Symphony No. 6 for Pastorale
- 1991 Fifteen Heterosexual Duets
- 1991 Musings
- 1993 The Miraculous Mandarin
- 1994 Spring Awakening
- 1994 The Actress
- 1994 Gluck Pas de Deux
- 1995 The Nutcracker
- 1996 Cruel World
- 1997 The Four Seasons
- 1997 Terra Firma
- 1998 Désir
- 1999 Swan Lake
- 1999 A Disembodied Voice
- 2000 The Firebird
- 2002 The Contract
- 2003 The End
- 2003 There, below
- 2004 Cinderella
- 2004 Chacony
- 2005 An Italian Straw Hat
- 2005 Romeo and Juliet before parting
- 2005 Full Circles
- 2013 ... black night’s bright day ...
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "James Kudelka". The Canadian Encyclopedia. May 3, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "National Ballet of Canada Director James Kudelka Resigns". Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ "Repertoire List 2000-2009". Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ "Repertoire List 1990-1999". Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ a b c "The naked ambition of Karen Kain" (PDF). Retrieved October 21, 2021.
Kudelka devoted much of his energy - and the company coffers - to developing his own multimillion-dollar ballets. At the same time the province and the city drastically cut funding to the Ballet
- ^ a b c d "Kimberly Glasco settles wrongful termination case against National Ballet of Canada". Archived from the original on 2007-03-16. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ William Littler, "Dance feature puts viewers on stage". Toronto Star, November 27, 1987.
- ^ "'More like a budgie than a swan'". The Globe and Mail, November 9, 2000.
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