10°c Overcast
15°c Mainly sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Former RWB artistic director dies
Former Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson presents Arnold Spohr with the Order of Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 14, 2004. (JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
WINNIPEG — The man who put the Royal Winnipeg Ballet on the international dance map has died.
Arnold Spohr was the RWB’s artistic director from 1958 to 1988.
His friend and caregiver, the choreographer Stephanie Ballard, said that Spohr died at 1:30 a.m. Monday at the Tuxedo Villa nursing home. He was 86 and had been incapacitated for several years.
"It was time," Ballard said. "He passed away very peacefully."
The cause of death had not been confirmed, but Ballard said that Spohr’s kidneys had been failing and that he had been on dialysis three times a week for almost four years.
"He was made of steel," she said. "He was a giant. There was no one like him. He gave Canadian dance an identity."
His biographer, Michael Crabb, called him "a volcanic force for good in Canadian dance."
"And it wasn’t just Canada," Crabb said. "Wherever you went and the subject of ballet came up -- Russia, Cuba, Australia – people would ask, ‘What about that wonderful man in Winnipeg?'"
Though Spohr’s death is sad, Crabb says, it is also a time to celebrate.
"My God, what a life he had," Crabb said. "He didn’t miss a thing."
Ballard says a private funeral will be held in the coming days and that that she and the RWB will be organizing memorial events in Winnipeg and Toronto.
"We don’t know when yet," she said. "But it will be sooner than later."
History
Updated on Monday, April 12, 2010 at 10:24 AM CDT: Quotes, new info added.
More The Arts
- Back to Top
- Return to The Arts
More The Arts
(1 of 13 articles for this week)
Topless Arthur painting fetches $1.9M at auction
05/18/2013 1:00 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular The Arts
- Topless Arthur painting fetches $1.9M at auction
- At this community art auction (volunteer) time really is money
- Graphic play real story of aboriginal incarceration
- WAG 100: Picasso
- A vast hurrah
- Winnipeg play shines light into cells of women awaiting trial
- Home is where the art is
- Buddy Holly, Mary Poppins on Rainbow's stage in 2013
- Alexander to headline Negev gala
- Carol Shields Festival of New Works includes, song, dance, theatre
- Winnipeg play shines light into cells of women awaiting trial
- Topless Arthur painting fetches $1.9M at auction
- Sam Beam, aka Iron and Wine, to play Pantages this fall
- Winnipeg Arts Council honouring Brownstone for lifetime achievement
- Home is where the art is
- Graphic play real story of aboriginal incarceration
- He works hard for the Monet
- The Buzz
- WAG 100: Picasso
- At this community art auction (volunteer) time really is money
- Winnipeg play shines light into cells of women awaiting trial
- Little-known novel named Manitoba book of year
- Atwood's 'powerful story' inspires RWB season opener
- Body-snatching tale bloody good
- Topless Arthur painting fetches $1.9M at auction
- Not quite a bohemian rhapsody, but it has a definite kick
- Winnipeg theatre talent graces stages across country
- Class of 2013
- Champion figure skater loves pre-Olympic push from Canadian fans
- He works hard for the Monet
- Home is where the art is
- Lotsa laughs from locals at comedy festival
- Sam Beam, aka Iron and Wine, to play Pantages this fall
- Winnipeg play shines light into cells of women awaiting trial
- Winnipeg Arts Council honouring Brownstone for lifetime achievement
- Graphic play real story of aboriginal incarceration
- Atwood's 'powerful story' inspires RWB season opener
- He works hard for the Monet
- Not quite a bohemian rhapsody, but it has a definite kick
- Little-known novel named Manitoba book of year
- Almost ripe
- Risk pays off in challenging, rewarding play
- Winnipeg theatre talent graces stages across country
- Home is where the art is
- Lotsa laughs from locals at comedy festival
- Atwood’s best-known tale makes pointe in RWB adaptation
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.