Biography
Born in Renfrew, Ontario, Peter Ottmann studied at Canada’s National
Ballet School
in Toronto. He
joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1976. As a dancer with the National Ballet until 1993, Mr. Ottmann’s naturally
regal bearing and effortless classical line, combined with a deep understanding
of character, led him to give memorable performances in a wide variety of
repertoire. He excelled particularly as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, The Prince in The
Sleeping Beauty, Albrecht and Hilarion in Giselle and James and Gurn in La
Sylphide. As well, he created key roles in ballets by Glen Tetley, William
Forsythe and James Kudelka.
Subsequent to his retirement from the stage, Mr. Ottmann
became the National Ballet’s Resident Choreologist and Ballet Master. In 2005,
he was appointed Senior Ballet Master, bringing his years of performing
experience and his keen understanding of the art and technique of ballet to his
position. Mr. Ottmann’s skills are much in demand and he has set works for such
companies as the Paris Opéra Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet British
Columbia, Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro and The National Ballet of
Canada, employing his authoritative knowledge and pedagogical sensitivity in
coaching dancers in works by such choreographers as John Cranko, Rudolf
Nureyev, Glen Tetley, James Kudelka and Jiří Kylián.