{"id":14791,"date":"2021-12-16T04:21:45","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T04:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/?p=14791"},"modified":"2025-04-21T07:16:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T07:16:21","slug":"sylvester-campbells-orbit-the-royal-winnipeg-ballet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/2021\/12\/16\/sylvester-campbells-orbit-the-royal-winnipeg-ballet\/","title":{"rendered":"Sylvester Campbell&#8217;s Orbit: The Royal Winnipeg Ballet"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><b>Sylvester Campbell and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet<\/b><\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14793\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14793\" style=\"width: 187px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14793 \" src=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-205x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Sylvester Campbell performing the Pas de Deux by Don Quixote at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet\" width=\"187\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-205x300.jpeg 205w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-800x1172.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-699x1024.jpeg 699w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-768x1125.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-920x1348.jpeg 920w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-230x337.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-350x513.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-480x703.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB-600x879.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-don-quixote-RWB.jpeg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Don Quixote Pas de Deux<\/em>. Photo: RWB, courtesy of <em>Dance Review<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sylvester Campbell first joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1972 at the recommendation of Agnes De Mille to return to the states. He had been previously dancing and competing in Russia when he and his partner caught the eye of De Mille. She saw real talent in him and wanted his classical style to be seen in the US. He did not make it back to the States but rather joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet under Director Arnold Spohr. Campbell danced as a principal dancer for the company from 1972 to 1975 and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">toured to Europe and South America. Campbell performed in pieces such as John Neumeier\u2019s<em> The Nutcracker<\/em> (with Violette Verdy), Jack Carter&#8217;s <em>Pas de Deux Romantique<\/em> (with Marina Eglevsky), and<em> Don Quixote<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Campbell left the company in 1975 because he was very unhappy with the people and the dancers, feeling like an outcast among his peers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14792\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14792\" style=\"width: 220px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14792 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-220x300.jpeg\" alt=\"A photo of Sylvester Campbell performing at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet\" width=\"220\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-220x300.jpeg 220w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-800x1089.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-752x1024.jpeg 752w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-768x1046.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-920x1253.jpeg 920w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-230x313.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-350x477.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-480x654.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB-600x817.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester_campbell-solo-RWB.jpeg 1076w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Peter Garrick, Royal Winnipeg Ballet. All RWB photos courtesy of Ted Patterson, from <em>Dance Review<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14795\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14795\" style=\"width: 208px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14795\" src=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-208x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Sylvester Campbell preforming the Pas de Deux Romantique with Marina Eglevsky by Jack Carter at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet\" width=\"208\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-208x300.jpeg 208w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-800x1153.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-710x1024.jpeg 710w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-768x1107.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-920x1326.jpeg 920w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-230x332.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-350x504.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-480x692.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB-600x865.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-pas-de-deux-romantique-RWB.jpeg 1015w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jack Carter\u2019s <em>Pas de Deux Romantique<\/em> with Marina Eglevsky. Photo: RWB, courtesy of <em>Dance Review<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14794\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14794\" style=\"width: 204px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14794 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-204x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Photo of Sylvester Campbell performing Neumeier\u2019s Nutcracker with Violette Verdy at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet\" width=\"204\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-204x300.jpeg 204w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-800x1178.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-695x1024.jpeg 695w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-768x1131.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-230x339.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-350x515.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-480x707.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB-600x884.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sylvester-campbell-nutcracker-RWB.jpeg 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14794\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Neumeier\u2019s <em>The Nutcracker<\/em> with Violette Verdy at Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Photo: Norma McLain Stoop, RWB, courtesy of <em>Dance Review<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><b>More about the Royal Winnipeg Ballet<\/b><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Royal Winnipeg Ballet was founded in 1939 by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally in Canada and remains the second oldest ballet company in North America and the oldest surviving company in Canada. The company began with Lloyd as the principal choreographer, Farrally as ballet mistress, and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Yeddea as stage and production manager. They started as a semiprofessional company that mostly produced short dances but came across financially hard times which caused them to reorganize into a professional company. After the reorganization and answering to a board of directors, Lloyd decided to resign and left Farrally to run the company on her own. In 1953, the company was granted special status to use the term \u201croyal\u201d in its title from the British Commonwealth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, the following year, the company&#8217;s facilities were destroyed in a fire leaving nothing behind but the dancers. During the reconstruction period, there was a series of choreographers and dancers coming and leaving the company. In 1958, the company fell in the hands of Arnold Spohr, who became director and led the company for the next 30 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rwb.org\/who-we-are\/history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Who We Are, Royal Winnipeg Ballet<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca\/en\/article\/royal-winnipeg-ballet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Canadian Encyclopedia<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/2020\/10\/02\/1972-anna-benna-sims-joined-the-grand-ballet-canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Timeline: 1972, MoBBallet<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.linesballet.org\/2021\/02\/25\/sylvester-campbell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sylvester Campbell, LINES Ballet<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14806 \" src=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM-300x106.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"241\" height=\"85\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM-230x81.png 230w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM-350x124.png 350w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM-480x170.png 480w, https:\/\/mobballet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-15-at-11.42.36-PM.png 504w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sylvester Campbell and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Sylvester Campbell first joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1972 at the recommendation of Agnes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"universe-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281,253],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sylvester-campbell-constellation","category-universe"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/134"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14791"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15307,"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14791\/revisions\/15307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobballet.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}