Biography
A native of Uitenhage, South Africa, Ms. Howard trained at The National School of the Arts in South Africa and Canada’s National Ballet School. She joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1998 and became a First Soloist in 2007.
Ms.
Howard danced the role of the Queen of Hearts in the North American premiere of
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by
Christopher Wheeldon. She also performed in the world premiere of Romeo and Juliet by Alexei Ratmansky.
Ms.
Howard’s repertoire includes the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty and the Stepsister in Cinderella as well as roles in Swan
Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, The Taming of
the Shrew, Les Sylphides, Opus
19/The Dreamer, Elite Syncopations, Serenade, Jewels, Symphony in C, Monotones
II, Voluntaries, Désir, Glass Pieces and The Four
Seasons. She created roles in Monument
and Wolf’s Court and performed in
the company premieres of Russian Seasons
and Chroma.
In
2010, Ms. Howard danced with the company in 24
Preludes by Chopin at the Cultural Olympiad at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Tanya Howard is sponsored through Dancers First by Nancy Pencer.
Quotes
Cinderella
“Tanya Howard, debuting as the assertive stepsister, reveals a comic mastery one hardly suspected in such an otherwise demurely refined artist.”
The Toronto Star, 2010
Chroma
“The choreography flatters the entire cast, and the leggy and hyper-flexible dancer Tanya Howard is a standout.”
The National Post, 2010
Don Quixote
“Gypsy couple Tanya Howard and Keiichi Hirano sizzled with passion”
The Globe and Mail, 2011