Canadian Evan McKie returns to his roots after thirteen years with the Stuttgart Ballet and joins The National Ballet of Canada as Principal Dancer. McKie trained at Canada’s National Ballet School, then the Kirov Academy of Ballet and finally the John Cranko School. He joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 2001 and he has been a Principal Dancer there for the past five years.
McKie has been Principal Guest Artist with The National Ballet for the past two seasons.
Karen Kain, Canadian Ballet’s Artistic Director, said,
One of the finest dancers of his generation, Evan McKie is acclaimed internationally for his artistry and dramatic sensibility. His recent guest appearances have thrilled Toronto audiences and I am so pleased to welcome him to the company as a Principal Dancer.
Evan is a perfect fit with our dancers and repertoire and it is wonderful that a Canadian artist celebrated around the world is coming home.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.
Congrats Evan. I’ve watched you many times in Stuttgart… Canada’s a bit far, but it will be a good excuse to see the place. Toi toi!