Not only did the 1953 Pillow performances by the National Ballet of Canada constitute the company’s U.S. debut, this was purportedly the first appearance by any Canadian ballet company in the United States. The troupe had been founded by Celia Franca (seen fleetingly in this clip as “The Woman in His Past”) just two years earlier, modeled on the company where she had danced in the 1940s, Sadler’s Wells Ballet. The Canadian company’s close relationship with Antony Tudor resulted from Franca’s early Tudor connections at Ballet Rambert in the 1930s. The National Ballet of Canada has since appeared at Jacob’s Pillow only once more, in 1957. After more than 15 years under the direction of one of its longtime stars, Karen Kain, the company is now directed by Hope Muir.
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