September 22, 2008… The National Ballet of Canada mourns the loss of David Haber, Artistic Director from 1974 - 75, who passed away on September 21, 2008 in Houston, Texas at the age of 81.

"David contributed much to the arts in Canada and laboured to raise the profile of Canada and Canadian artists internationally," says Karen Kain, Artistic Director.

Born in Montréal on July 15, 1927, Mr. Haber joined the National Ballet in 1951 as the company’s first Production Stage Manager and managed the company’s first Canadian and U.S. tours, as well as its European debut tour. He was appointed Co-Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada with founder Celia Franca in 1973 before becoming Artistic Director the following year.

During Mr. Haber’s long career in the arts, he worked with the National Film Board, National Arts Centre and Canada Council for the Arts. He was also a successful agent, managing such artists as Sir John Gielgud and worked at the William Morris Agency in New York City. He went on to create his own company Haber Artists Management Inc., worked with the International Arts Festival for various World's Fairs and consulted the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington DC and the Houston International Arts Festival.

In his later years, Mr. Haber was dedicated to raising funds for HIV research, AMFAR and the Houston Ballet School. The David Haber and Dr. Tidier Piot Scholarship Fund financially assists young men studying ballet, covering both their academic and dance expenses.