User:Balletkelowna

David LaHay

David LaHay was born on July.15th 1949 in Barrie, Ontario

Artistic Director

As Artistic Director of Ballet Kelowna, Mr. LaHay has choreographed many original works to wide public and critical acclaim and staged works from the classical repertoire as well as contemporary ballets by Canadian choreographers Brian Macdonald, Nesta Toumine and Kay Armstrong. His original choreography for Ballet Kelowna includes Donizetti Dances, The Promise of Angels (II), Romanza, Tangazzo, Liebeslieder Waltzes, Journey Out of Darkness, Dvorak Dances, Exsultate Jubilate, Divertimenti, Bolero, Romeo & Juliet Appassionata and In Arden Woods.

Mr. LaHay was the founding Artistic Director of the Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive 2008 program in Kelowna that brought the former Banff dance program (founders Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farally) to the interior of British Columbia.

In keeping with its commitment to invest in the future of dance, David LaHay has commissioned the following seven choreographers to create new work with the company and mounted the following world premieres: Le Banc, Paul Destrooper, premiered and toured Fall 2009, Lark Ascending, D.A. Hoskins, premiered and toured Spring 2009, Negotiating Shifts, Gioconda Barbuto, premiered and toured Fall 2008 and Spring 2009, The Red Nocturnal, Josh Beamish, premiered and toured Spring 2008, Affairs of the Heart, D.A. Hoskins, premiered and toured Fall 2007, Butterfly Affect, Joe Laughlin, premiered and toured Spring 2007, Indigo Moods, Vicki St. Denys, premiered and toured Fall 2006, and I Remember You, Simone Orlando, premiered and toured Fall 2005.

Professional Dance Career

David LaHay is the founding Artistic Director of Ballet Kelowna. He enjoyed a long and successful career as Principal Dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and was guest artist with The Royal Swedish Ballet, The Alberta Ballet and The Cuban International Dance Festival. As a performer his many classical roles included Albrecht (Giselle), Prince Seigfried (Swan Lake), The Poet (Les Sylphides) The Cavalier (The Nutcracker)and Raymonda Act III as well as pas de deux from Don Quixote, The Flower Festival at Genzano and Le Corsaire. He also danced many neo-classical, contemporary and modern works by such renowned choreographers as George Balanchine, John Butler and Brian Macdonald.

Teaching Career

As a teacher, Mr. LaHay has been ballet master for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, The Ottawa Ballet, The Alberta Ballet as well as guest ballet master for The Gotheburg Ballet. His teaching affiliations include The Hartford Ballet, Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, The Vancouver Ballet Society, The Chautauqua Summer Dance Program, The Banff Centre Summer Dance Program and The Canadian School of Ballet. He has also taught master classes across Canada and was resident choreographer for the Canadian Heritage Festival in Saskatoon, Winnipeg and St. John.

Mr. LaHay was a member of the faculty and Assistant Director of the Summer Dance Program at The Banff Centre from 1993 through 2007 as well as Associate Director of Summer Dance. He has taught, coached, assisted choreographers (including the Clifford E. Lee Choreographic Award winners) and staged ballets for The Professional Dance Program's "Festival Ballet" and "Young Dancers in Performance". For The Banff Centre he choreographed Momenti di Sylvani, Soiree au Bal, Sobama Moon, Gioco Classico, Caprice, The Promise of Angels(I), In Stride, Nothing More Nothing Less, A Burden Too Heavy, Eternal Source of Light Divine, Andante and A La Tarantella.

Education and Awards

Mr. LaHay holds a BA (Trent University), an Honours BFA in Dance (York University) and has been a contributing journalist for DanceCanadaDanse and Vandance (now Ballet International) publications. In 2006 he was awarded an Angel in the Arts Award for his contributions to the cultural mosaic of the city of Kelowna.