James Kudelkda

Choreographer

James Kudelka is one of North America's foremost dance artists, universally respected for the quality and depth of his work. As a choreographer, he has the rare ability to marry classical tradition with modern movement and is recognized for his remarkable talent in combining both idioms. Having graduated from the National Ballet School, Kudelka joined the National Ballet of Canada. In 1981, he joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal as a Principal Dancer and was the company's Resident Choreographer from 1984 to 1990. During this time, between Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and other commissions, he created numerous ballets, his work steadily maturing in the perceptions and intelligence which distinguishes its character today. A remarkably prolific choreographer, he has created over 70 ballets, many of the most recent for the National Ballet of Canada, where he was Artistic Director from 1996 – 2005 and continues as Resident Choreographer.

James Kudelka created a duet for Peggy Baker and Sylvain LaFortune in 1990 entitled Romeo and Juliet Before Parting; a solo for Baker in 1991, This isn't the End; and Palleas and Melisande in 1997 with Baker and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has since performed with Baker in Doug Varone's Home, and created a duet for Baker and Larry Hahn entitled A Woman By A Man, which will premiere in 2008.