The Passing of a Dance Icon

(source: http://www.danceontario.ca)

Celia Franca, founder of The National Ballet of Canada, and Artistic Director for 24 years, died at the age of85 died [Monday February 19] in The Ottawa Hospital.

Miss Franca (photo above with Karen Kain and Veronica Tennant) was honoured for her many achievements and contributions to the arts in Canada. In 1974 she received the Molson Prize, in 1979 The Annual Award of the International Society of Arts Administrators in New York and in 1986 the Canadian Conference of the Arts' Diplome d'Honneur. In 1984 she was honoured at a Gala at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

In 1967 Miss Franca was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 1985 was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 1987 she received the St. George's Society of Toronto Award and that same year was among the first to be honoured with the Order of Ontario. She served as a member of the board of governors of York University, the board of directors of the Canada Council and the board of directors of the Canada Dance Festival Society.

The National Ballet of Canada dedicated the 2006/07 season, its first in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, to Celia Franca.

"Celia was more than the National Ballet's founder. She was its presiding spirit, its most stalwart supporter and the embodiment of its ideals and values," said Karen Kain, the company's Artistic Director. "She inspired generations of dancers by her example and her devotion to the art of ballet. And most importantly, she made us believe in ourselves and that no goal was ever out of reach. She will be missed by everyone who cares about ballet."