Norbert Vesak

Norbert Vesak
Norbert Vesak, 1983
Born
Norbert Franklin Vesak

(1936-10-22)October 22, 1936
Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada
DiedOctober 2, 1990(1990-10-02) (aged 53)
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Choreographer, Dancer, Master Teacher, Theatrical Director, Opera Ballet Director for the San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera
Years active1959-1990
Notable workThe Ecstasy of Rita Joe, What To Do Till the Messiah Comes, In Quest of the Sun, Meadow Dances, Death in Venice, Carmen, Sacre du Printemps, Midsummer Night's Dream, Sibelius Songs, Veder Engel Nach Unserer Mensch, Elegie Für Eine Tote Liebe, Whispers of Darkness, The Grey Goose of Silence, Pieces of Glass, Belong Pas de Deux, The Medium, Whisper of Night
PartnerRobert de La Rose
AwardsWinner of Two Gold Medals 1980 for Outstanding Choreography, International Concours at Osaka, Japan and Varna, Bulgaria

Norbert Vesak (October 22, 1936 – October 2, 1990), one of Canada's leading choreographers in the 1970s, was a ballet dancer, choreographer, theatrical director, master teacher, dance columnist,[1] lecturer,[2] and opera ballet director, known for his unique, flamboyant style[3] and his multimedia approach to classical and contemporary choreography.[4][5] He is credited with helping to bring modern dance to Western Canada.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ Sunter, Robert. "Vesak Seeks Craft First". Vancouver Sun.
  2. ^ "Second Gold Medal For Choreographer". San Francisco Chronicle. July 24, 1980.
  3. ^ Wyman, Max (December 22, 1969). "The Happiness Dancers: Vancouver's New Modern Troupe Is Previewed". The Vancouver Sun.
  4. ^ Pepper, Kaija (2012). Renegade Bodies: Canadian Dance in the 1970s. Dance Collection Danse Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0929003702.
  5. ^ Anderson, Jack (October 3, 1990). "Norbert Vesak, 53, Former Chief of the Met Opera Ballet, Is Dead". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Rubin, Don (2000-09-21). World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theater: The Americas. Routledge. p. 123. ISBN 978-0415227452.
  7. ^ Wyman, Max (May 26, 1970). "Western Dance Theatre leaps into reality". Vancouver Sun.
  8. ^ MacGillivray, Alex (May 27, 1966). "Leisure". Vancouver Sun.