James Kudelka
Encyclopedia
James Kudelka, OC
, (born at Newmarket, Ontario
on September 10, 1955), is a choreographer, dancer, and director. He was the artistic director
for the National Ballet of Canada
from 1996 to 2005, now serving as the National Ballet's artist in residence.
His first reworking of a major Russian classic was The Nutcracker
, for the National Ballet in 1995. The production's success led Kudelka to be appointed artistic director after Reid Anderson resigned due to frustration over government funding cuts.
In 1998, principal dancer Kimberley Glasco
launched a wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada
after Kudelka dropped her from the company roster. Allegedly , Glasco had questioned the allocation of funds for Kudelka's version of Swan Lake
. In arbitration, Kudelka was ordered to reinstate the ballerina, which he refused to do for the spring season, and he threatened to quit. Company sources who spoke on condition of anonymity then claimed that Glasco turned down performances for the fall season, as the company had become a hostile environment to her. The protracted lawsuit concluded in July 2000 with an out-of-court settlement. A joint statement was issued to mitigate the bad press, and the ballerina is reported to have received damages in the neighborhood of a million Canadian dollars, a sum apparently leaked to the press by the Glasco camp, although the settlement was made privately and the National would describe the figure only as "substantial."
He resigned as artistic director in 2005, being succeeded by retired ballet dancer and artistic associate Karen Kain
. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada
the same year.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, (born at Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
on September 10, 1955), is a choreographer, dancer, and director. He was the artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
for the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
from 1996 to 2005, now serving as the National Ballet's artist in residence.
His first reworking of a major Russian classic was The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, for the National Ballet in 1995. The production's success led Kudelka to be appointed artistic director after Reid Anderson resigned due to frustration over government funding cuts.
In 1998, principal dancer Kimberley Glasco
Kimberley Glasco
Kimberley Glasco is a Canadian ballerina.In 1998, Glasco launched a wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada instigated because artistic director James Kudelka dropped her from the company roster, allegedly because Glasco had questioned the allocation of funds for Kudelka's...
launched a wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
after Kudelka dropped her from the company roster. Allegedly , Glasco had questioned the allocation of funds for Kudelka's version of Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
. In arbitration, Kudelka was ordered to reinstate the ballerina, which he refused to do for the spring season, and he threatened to quit. Company sources who spoke on condition of anonymity then claimed that Glasco turned down performances for the fall season, as the company had become a hostile environment to her. The protracted lawsuit concluded in July 2000 with an out-of-court settlement. A joint statement was issued to mitigate the bad press, and the ballerina is reported to have received damages in the neighborhood of a million Canadian dollars, a sum apparently leaked to the press by the Glasco camp, although the settlement was made privately and the National would describe the figure only as "substantial."
He resigned as artistic director in 2005, being succeeded by retired ballet dancer and artistic associate Karen Kain
Karen Kain
Karen Alexandria Kain, CC is a retired Canadian ballet dancer, and currently the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada.-Early Training:...
. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
the same year.