In her over 40-year career, Ms. Nisbet was instrumental to the success of the National Ballet.
The National Ballet of Canada mourns the passing of former dancer and Senior Ballet Mistress Joanne Nisbet. In her over 40-year career, Ms. Nisbet was instrumental to the success of the National Ballet and will be deeply missed by many.
She began her study of ballet in Calcutta where her teachers included former members of the Markova-Dolin and Diaghilev Ballets. When she was 13, Ms. Nisbet moved to London, England where she took classes with the illustrious Dame Marie Rambert and also with Ana Ivanova upon whose advice, she went to Paris to study with former Maryinsky Theatre and Diaghlilev ballerinas Mathilde Kschessinskaya, Olga Preobrajenska and Lubov Egorova.
In 1949, Ms. Nisbet joined the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, The Royal Ballet's "Second Company" formed in 1946, as a showcase for younger dancers and new choreographers including Celia Franca, John Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan. In addition to being in the first production of Pineapple Poll, Ms. Nisbet also danced in other Cranko ballets such as Harlequin in April, Pastorale and The Lady and the Fool.Videos