[N A BACKYARD CLOSE TO HOME - GRASSROOTS ADVICE - Green lawns require fi@normous amount of water, time and effort! Try replacing OF reducing lawns with low water, plants, shrubs and ground cover. oe Practice low maintenance, natura gardening! ‘QUESTIONS? wa) Free Brochure - ", Call NSRP: 984-9730 : www.nsrp.be.ca ; North ‘Shore : recyding program ; NORTH SHORE} <> 4 @S CREDIT UNION oy NIKKI Ganbeiner profile MANY little girls dream of becoming ballerinas, but Jean (Stoneham) Orr lived her dreams, and exceeded them. Her lifelong passion for baller, self-discipline and dedi- cation propelied her through a career that dreams are made of. Not only did she perform feading roles, but she laid the groundwork for vounger bal- lerinas. Equally successful is Jean as a dance instructor, dance choreographer, mother, administrator, and a volunteer. She is a champion of dance, a national ambassador of ballet and a North Shore treasure. , Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1929, Jean was one of three children. Her family came to Canada when she was eight months old and settled in Saskatoon. At six she started Highland dancing and competed in the focal Highland Games. Even at that early age, Jean was set- _ ting goals for ‘herself and disci- * plined herself to reach them.” ~ Looking back, Jean says: “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to take university courses and to have other skills: With dancing you can be involved for a long time, you can dance, teach or choreo- graph, but it is not an easy way to earn a living.” Her family moved to Varicouver in 1938; when she was eight, and she immediately . -» with a beaming smile, she started ballet classes with the dance instructor. June Roper. However, the family stayed 5 only one year in Vancouver ré returning to Saskatoon. The First World War brake - out and her father was sent to Ortawa. The family followed shortly thereafter, and Jean continued ballet classes and excelled in her dancing. In 1948, at the age of 18, she danced the lead role of Giselle with the Ottawa Classic © Ballet. She was the first Canadian to dance this chal- lenging role and it was the ne of her carcer. Giselle SENIORS - Stens in the JEAN Orr was the first Canadian to dance Giselle, in 1948 with the Ottawa Ballet Company. She was 18 at the time, and danced with Vladimir Dokovdovsky. hel id Jean’s career to take off, and she had an option to remain with the National Ballet or the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (then the Winnipeg _ Ballet). Jean chose the ‘Royal Winnipeg Ballets?!) 2-2." Jean’s face lights up and recalls: “I remember in 1951, the. RWB gave a command performance for Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their Royal tour to Canada. i was so excited. ‘fhe princess. was beautiful and petite; she wore a pale-yellow dress and a diamond tiara.” The years 1951 through 1954 found Jean touring -. Canada, from coast to coast, with the Royal Winnipeg" Ballet, : : “Tt was a touring network and we were consistently per- forming | to full houses,” "recalls, “Colourful Encounters” June 29 - July 28, 2000 OPENING RECEPTION Thursday, June 29, 2000 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm The Artist will be present ‘BEL ART GALLERY INC. "3053 Highland Boulevard, North Vancouver, B.C., V7R 2X4 ‘E-mail: belart@axionet.com “Opening Hours:: ‘Tuesday - Friday lam - + Spm ¢ Saturday 10-Mam - -430pm Jean. In the ‘off-season, Jean performed with Les Grands Ballcts Canadiens in Montreal. Jean married Milton Orr in 1953 and in May 1954, she hung up her slippers to be with her husband: The first‘ their six children was born the: following year. They lived in Montreal for 17 years. Jean now has 15 grandchildren... After Jean retired from dancing, the Orrs decided to move.to B.C. Jean may have retired, but her passion for ballet continued. “)-The years 1965 through - 1967 found Jean doing the. dance choreography for the North Shore Light Opera’... Company: Otto | Lowy was the” director at the time, and the - "company consisted of amateur.” ~ singers and dancers. “The Orrs moved to the Milton built their Jarge home in West Vancouver and through the years, all their children graduated from Sentinel high schoo received university degre romi- UBC; SFU‘6r Cape . College. Shortly. after.m - to the North Shore, Jean sta “ ed volunteer work with the . opment of young Jean says:.“1 startet secretary. Soon I taught: classes-and then I wasp - dent for two. years f “In 1995, she. becam thi ~ ea of Ball 86 and « condinues North Shore in 1971. She and’) This one on one program is particularly effective for - these with © Dyslexia e ESL e ADD « Learning - Disabilities : “Beacon Literacy: ... Development Centre . North Vaticouver ‘Tel: 983-3322.