In Memory of Nadia Potts (1948–2026)

It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Nadia Potts, a cherished member of the Canada's National Ballet School (NBS) community whose life was shaped by dance, friendship, and an unwavering commitment to teaching and learning. Nadia’s relationship with NBS began almost at the very beginning of the School.

Nadia first entered the world of ballet at the age of seven in Betty Oliphant’s Toronto studio. When NBS opened its doors in 1959, she continued her training under Betty Oliphant, graduating in 1964 as part of a formative generation that helped define the School’s early legacy.



After graduation, Nadia danced with the National Ballet of Canada for twenty years, rising to the rank of principal dancer. Those years were marked by artistic intensity, discipline, and extraordinary reliance among dancers, particularly during the demanding Rudolf Nureyev era. It was during this time that lifelong bonds were forged, none more enduring than those she shared with Vanessa Harwood-Scully (left) and Linda Maybarduk Alguire (middle). Known affectionately as “the Three Amigos,” their friendship was rooted in childhood, strengthened on stage and on tour, and sustained across decades as their lives evolved.

This week, we asked Vanessa and Linda to share their fond memories of Nadia, and we are deeply appreciative of this glimpse into the impact of their lifelong relationship with Nadia and on each other.

Vanessa met Nadia in 1954, when they were children taking their very first ballet lessons with Betty Oliphant. They trained together throughout their time at NBS and later danced together in the company. Vanessa remembers Nadia as the smartest in the class, and as someone whose quiet strength and reliability were a constant source of reassurance. They stood side by side through moments of enormous pressure, including performing Aurora under Nureyev, and supported one another as only dancers who had grown up together could.

Linda’s bond with Nadia deepened in the early 1970's, particularly during a month they spent together in the Soviet Union on Canada Council scholarships, studying at the Bolshoi and the Kirov. By the end of that time, their connection was so intuitive that they often seemed to share the same thoughts before they were spoken. That closeness never faded. Across careers, marriages, and motherhood, their friendship endured with rare depth and constancy.



Away from the stage, the Three Amigos found joy in the ordinary and the playful. They were devoted baseball fans, regularly on three-way phone calls during the season, cheering their favourite players and collectively shouting “Ouch!” whenever Guerrero Jr. did the splits at first base. Having all grown up with brothers, they became sisters to one another. They celebrated together, travelled together, and, just as importantly, stood together through life’s hardest moments.

After retiring from performance, Nadia embarked on a distinguished 24-year career at Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson, where she served as Associate Chair and Director of the Dance Program. Her contributions were recognized in 2024 when she was inducted into the Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame, an honour she received with characteristic grace.

Nadia remained a familiar and beloved presence at NBS, attending performances and events and staying connected to the community that had shaped her from childhood. Her legacy lives on through the many students she taught, the artists she inspired, and the friendships she cherished so dearly.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Nadia’s family, friends, and all who were touched by her remarkable life. We are profoundly grateful for the many ways she enriched Canada’s National Ballet School, our students, and the broader dance community. She will be remembered with affection, admiration, and deep respect.