Grant Strate(1927—2015)
The National Ballet of Canada mourns the death of Grant Strate, one of Canada’s most accomplished dance artists and Charter Member of the National Ballet.
Mr. Strate danced with the National Ballet from 1951 – 1962 and was the company’s first Resident Choreographer from 1964 – 1970. His first work for the National Ballet was Jeune Pas de Deux in 1956. During his tenure, he choreographed more than a dozen ballets including The Fisherman and His Soul, House of Atreus and Triptych. In 1970, he created Canada's first university dance program at York University in Toronto and in 1980 he joined Simon Fraser University in Burnaby B.C. as Director for the Centre for the Arts. Following his retirement, Mr. Strate continued to be active as a teacher and choreographer and in 2002 he published Grant Strate: A Memoir.
Mr. Strate passed away peacefully in his home on February 9, 2015. He was 87.
