Lois Smith

Lois Smith, prima ballerina of the National Ballet of Canada 1951 – 1969, died January 22nd, 2011.  Lois Smith became the consummate classical ballerina of the National Ballet, noted for her pure line and serene style.   Outstanding in many roles, she was particularly memorable as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, and as Caroline in Tudor’s Lilac Garden.  Her partnership with David Adams became a beloved legend in its time.  Above all, Lois was a great and stellar pioneer of ballet in Canada, and paved the way for all the dancers who came after her. Lois left the National Ballet Company in 1969 because of an injury.  She then made a remarkable transition from performing to teaching ballet (and was by all accounts an excellent teacher). She started her own Lois Smith School of Dance in Toronto (later incorporated into the Performing Arts Program of George Brown College, where she served as chairwoman of the dance program from 1979-1988).  She later returned to her native British Columbia where she taught in Vancouver.  After she stopped dancing, Lois also turned her hand to choreography, and was commissioned to create works for George Brown College, the Canadian Opera Company, the Winnipeg Opera, and CBC television, as well as for the Alberta Ballet, the Florida Ballet and the South West Ballet Company. Lois received the Order of Canada (officer) in 1980.