Reid Anderson

Reid Anderson-Graefe has had a long and successful career as a dancer, ballet master and artistic director. In addition to having directed Stuttgart Ballet for 22 years, he has staged and rehearsed John Cranko's masterpieces for renowned ballet companies all over the world for the last thirty years.

Born 1949 in New Westminster, British Columbia, he began his dance training at the Dolores Kirkwood Academy in Burnaby, B.C. He was given a grant at the age of 17 which allowed him to study at The Royal Ballet School in London, England. One year later, in February 1969, he joined Stuttgart Ballet upon the invitation of John Cranko. During his 17-year career as a dancer with Stuttgart Ballet, Reid, who was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1978, not only danced leading roles in Cranko’s ballets but also in a wide range of classical and contemporary ballets. He worked with many of the leading choreographers of the 20th century, including Kenneth MacMillan, Glen Tetley, John Neumeier, William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián, all of whom created roles for him.

From August 1987 to June 1989, Reid was Artistic Director of Ballet BC and in July 1989 he was appointed Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada. In 1996, Reid returned to Stuttgart Ballet as Artistic Director and was appointed Intendant at the end of that season. During the course of his 22-year tenure as Intendant, Reid pursued a repertoire policy which placed equal weight on preserving and cultivating the Cranko legacy and promoting the works of established contemporary choreographers as well as discovering and nurturing new choreographic talent. Under Reid’s leadership, Stuttgart Ballet was invited to perform at the Bolshoi Theater, Palais Garnier in Paris, London Coliseum and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, among others. Many of the dancers and choreographers whom Reid mentored are currently directing prestigious companies around the world.

Reid is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes such as the John Cranko Prize, German Dance Prize, Federal Cross of Merit as well as the Golden Stauffer Medal from the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg.