Vanessa Harwood
Vanessa Clare Harwood, OC (born 14 June 1947) is a Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer, artistic director, teacher, and actor.
Vanessa Clare Harwood | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 June 1947 Cheltenham, England |
| Former groups | National Ballet of Canada |
| Dances | Swan Lake |
Born in Cheltenham, England, Harwood was one of the first pupils at The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto when it opened in 1959.[1] She joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1965, became a soloist in 1967, and was a principal dancer from 1970 to 1987. Harwood was celebrated for her portrayal of Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, and came to be known as Superswan because of her mastery of the demanding dual role.[2]
As an actor, Harwood had minor roles in Road to Avonlea and Due South. As a choreographer, she makes an uncredited appearance in the introductory sequence of "Poison à la Carte" a 2002 episode of A Nero Wolfe Mystery.
In 1984, Harwood was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.[3] She is also an Advisory Council member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre.[4]
As of 1969, she was a resident of the Town of Mississauga.[5]
References
- "Enter the sexy one to play next Giselle for the National"; The Globe and Mail, November 4, 1978
- Kelly, Deirdre, "Harwood bows out of ballet"; The Globe and Mail, February 16, 1987
- "Order of Canada to Peterson, Gretzky"; The Globe and Mail, June 30, 1984
- http://pub.canadiana.ca/view/omcn.MississaugaNews_7/993?r=0&s=5
- "Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry". Retrieved March 20, 2006.