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Une professeure dirige deux jeunes danseuses dans un cours de ballet
A large crowd gathered for Sharing Dance Day.
Students perform in Arise.
Five dancers jumping in unison.

DREAM BIG

 

 
Celebrating an immeasurable legacy and securing future dreams.

 

In June 2024, Canada's National Ballet School’s (NBS) Artistic Director and CEO, Mavis Staines, will retire after over 35 years of inspiring leadership.
 

As a visionary dance educator and leader, Mavis Staines has exemplified the ability to DREAM BIG. This ability has led to innovations in ballet and dance focused on dancer health and well-being, inclusive community engagement, and collaborative partnerships, with an unwavering commitment to integrity and compassion.
 

Mavis has shown how the realization of dreams is never about one person alone, but rather communities being inspired by a universal aspiration that transcends the individual.
 

This school year is not only the finale of NBS’ Dancing Opens Doors initiative—as we begin the final year of Mavis’ leadership, we’re bringing together the NBS community—donors, graduates, students, staff, and collaborators—to celebrate the past dreams we’ve achieved together, and secure every future dream at NBS.
 

146 Students performing Arise at FFDN

Join Us with a Gift to DREAM BIG

A gift to DREAM BIG—the final year of Dancing Opens Doors—will support NBS’ annual programs and immediate areas of greatest need and potential—your gift can help deepen Mavis’ unwavering commitments to advancing equity in dance and investing in meaningful mentorship opportunities to support future leaders. It will also support the transition and vision of NBS’ incoming Artistic Director, to be named and celebrated in the coming year.

Donate today

Share your story

Share your favourite memories, stories, and/or the impact that Mavis' leadership has made on you or a loved one here.

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NBS History

Read more about NBS’ History, including Mavis Staines’ indelible impact over her 35 years as CEO and Artistic Director.

Learn more

Read the press release

Canada’s National Ballet School announces visionary leader Mavis Staines will retire as Artistic Director in June 2024

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About Dancing Opens Doors

Over three years (2022-2024), the Dancing Opens Doors fundraising initiative is raising funds for the areas of greatest need and potential across all areas of NBS’ programming—including professional training, recreational programs, and Community Dance initiatives—and spotlighting special initiatives of unique promise and positive impact.

 

Now entering its final year, Dancing Opens Doors has already raised funds to support vital initiatives like Assemblée Internationale 2023, the Dancer Not Dementia film project, LEAD, and more. Dancing Opens Doors donors are raising awareness of the many opportunities that dance provides, and making more of those opportunities accessible.

Sharing the Transformative Power of Dance

Learn more about how programming excellence, access and inclusion fuel our belief in sharing the transformative power of dance to change lives for the better.