June, 2005 - Nr. 6
KAREN KAIN, C.C., L. L. D, L. L.T, O.Ont.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
"There was Fonteyn. There was Makarova. There is Karen
Kain."
Gary Smith, The Hamilton Spectator, 1992
| 1969 | Graduates from the National Ballet School and joins the corps de ballet of The National Ballet of Canada |
| 1970 | Replaces an injured Veronica Tennant in Swan Lake during a tour of the Southern United States |
| 1971 | Promoted to Principal Dancer |
| 1972 | Performs with Rudolf Nureyev in The Sleeping Beauty in Houston, Texas |
| 1972 | Makes her debut in Romeo and Juliet with Frank Augustyn |
| 1973 | Awarded the Silver Medal in the Women’s Category at the 2nd International Ballet Competition in Moscow. She also, with Frank Augustyn, won-the Silver Medal for Best Pas de Deux |
| 1974 | Dances in Don Juan in Toronto and La SyIphide in New York with Rudolf Nureyev |
| 1974 | First danced with Roland Petit’s Le Ballet National de Marseille and returns as guest artist throughout the next decade |
| 1975 | Dances with Rudolf Nureyev in The Sleeping Beauty with the London Festival Ballet |
| 1976 | Made an Officer of the Order of Canada |
| 1977 | Dances the lead role in Giselle with the Bolshoi Ballet on a Soviet Tour as Guest Artist |
| 1977 | Karen Kain Ballerina is aired on CBC Television |
| 1980 | Guest artist with Makarova and Company |
| 1980 | Guest artist with Le Ballet de Marseille in New York |
| 1986 | Dances in the world premiere of Glen Tetley’s Alice |
| 1987 | Performs in Impromtu, choreographed by Eliot Feld, at the National Ballet’s 35th Anniversary Gala |
| 1988 |
A gala performance, "Celebrating Kain", held in honour of Ms. Kain’s 20 years with the National Ballet |
| 1989 | Karen Kain Prima Ballerina aired on CBC Television |
| 1991 | Reunited with Frank Augustyn in the Balcony Pas de Deux from Romeo and Juliet at the National Ballet’s 40th Anniversary Gala |
| 1991 | James Kudelka creates Musings for the Glory of Mozart Festival as a tribute to Ms. Kain |
| 1991 | Made Companion of the Order of Canada |
| 1992 | Performing Arts Award from the Toronto Arts Awards |
| 1993 | John Neumeier creates Now and Then for Ms. Kain |
| 1994 | James Kudelka creates The Actress in honour of Ms. Kain’s 25th anniversary with the National Ballet |
| 1994 | The National Ballet of Canada’s 1994/95 season is dedicated to Ms. Kain |
| 1994 | Creates the role of Frau Gabor in James Kudelka’s Spring Awakening |
| 1994 | Movement Never Lies: An Autobiography by Karen Kain with Stephen Godfrey and Penelope Reed Doob, published by McClelland & Stewart |
| 1995 | Performs the role of Natalia Petrova in Frederick Ashton’s A Month in the Country, staged by Anthony Dowell for The National Ballet of Canada. This was the first time the ballet was performed by another company than Britain’s Royal Ballet. |
| 1996 | Is the first Canadian to be honoured with the Cartier Lifetime Achievement Award. |
| 1996 | Announces her retirement as Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada following the 96/97 season. |
| 1997 | Embarks on a cross Canada Farewell Tour presented by Livent Inc. She performed James Kudelka’s The Actress. |
| 1997 | Honoured with Governor General’s Award - National Arts Centre Award |
| 1998 | Becomes Artist in Residence at The National Ballet of Canada |
| 1998 | Inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame |
| 1999 | Appointed Artistic Associate at The National Ballet of Canada |
| 2000 | Named an Officier of the Ordre des arts et letters by the French Government |
| 2002 | Receives a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement |
| 2002 | Receives The Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
| 2004 | Re-stages Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty to critical acclaim |
| 2004 | Invited by Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to speak to Harvard’s Canada Seminar about the challenges facing artists and arts organizations in Canada. |
| 2004 | Named as Board Chair of The Canada Council |
