Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Karen Kain received her dance training at the National Ballet School. After her graduation in 1969 she joined The National Ballet of Canada and within one year she was promoted to Principal Dancer.
In 1973, Ms. Kain and Frank Augustyn, her most frequent partner, participated in the 2nd International-Ballet Competition in Moscow. Ms. Kain won the Silver Medal in the Women’s Category and together they were awarded the Silver Medal for Best Pas de Deux.
A dancer of extraordinary talent and beauty, and acclaimed by critics throughout North America and Europe, Ms. Kain continues to bring fresh nuances to her roles which encompass most of the major classical ballets and many of the best known contemporary works. On November 17, 1988, The National Ballet of Canada held a gala performance "Celebrating Kain" in honour of Ms. Kain’s 20 years with the company. The National Ballet of Canada dedicated the 1994/95 season to Ms. Kain in honour of her 25 years with the company.
Some of Ms. Kain’s leading roles include the Swan Queen/Black Swan in Swan Lake, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, the title roles in Giselle, Manon and La Sylphide, Swanilda in Coppélia, Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, the Lady in White in Don Juan, Tatiana in Onegin and the Sugar Plum Fairy/Snow Queen in The Nutcraker.
Her film and television work includes Dancers for Life for CBC-TV produced by Veroncia Tennant and Making Ballet, a documentary on the making of James Kudelka’s The Actress for TVO and the CBC-TV/Primedia productions of The Merry Widow, Alice and La Ronde. She has also danced in French television production of Roland Petit’s Coppélia. Ms. Kain has also been the subject of a CBC-TV "Super Special" and two documentaries including "Karen Kain Prima Ballerina."
A versatile performer, Ms. Kain has appeared in two pantomimes produced by her husband, Ross Petty. The pantomimes Cinderalla and Aladdin were also filmed for CTV. In 1993, Ms. Kain was invited to be the Classical Dance Consultant, assisting choreographer Lar Lubovich, for the Broadway musical The Red Shoes.
In 1976, Ms. Kain became an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 1991 she was named a Companion of the Order of Canada. Ms. Kain holds honourary degrees from Toronto, York, McMaster and Trent universities and the University of British Columbia. Ms. Kain is president of the national organization, The Dancer’s Transition Centre. In October 1992, Ms. Kain was presented with the Performing Arts Award at the annual Toronto Arts Awards and in 1996 became the first Canadian to receive the Cartier Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ms. Kain’s autobiography, Movement Never Lies: An Autobiography was published by McClelland & Stewart in November, 1994.
Karen Kain’s farewell tour from the National Ballet of Canada was produced by Livent Inc. and toured Canada in 1997.
Her international gala appearances in 1998 have taken her to Japan, Athens and Vienna.
| DLA | Speakers | Categories | Top Of Page |