Biography: Johanne Gingras

Ms Gingras is a graduate of the National Ballet School Teacher Training program. She has an Licentiate designation from the Imperial Society of the Teachers of Dancing, Cecchetti branch, as well as certificates in national and modern from the I.S.T.D. Her teaching experience encompasses various schools in Quebec and Ontario and she has performed as a member of a Dance Troupe in Quebec, Canada.

Ms Gingras held the position of Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Sokol Polish Folk Ensemble and has adjudicated many festivals and competitions across Canada. In particular, she was the National Adjudicator for the Coquitlam CDMF Performing Arts Festival, Educandance Dance Festival and the Moose Jaw Festival of the Arts.

As a choreographer, she has created numerous pieces for the RWB School’s Professional Division. She participated in Fast Forward, an evening of new choreography presented by the RWB Company, and choreographed for the Manitoba Opera’s productions of La Traviata, Hansel and Gretel and The Magic Flute. Ms Gingras has been invited to teach in Canada, the United States, and Japan, and last March performed as Juliet’s nurse in The RWB Company’s production of Romeo & Juliet.

Joining the RWB School in 1984, Ms Gingras was instrumental in developing the Teachers Training Program curriculum, and was name Director of the program in 1997. For over 25 years Ms Gingras has been committed to developing and maintaining a high standard of excellence in the art of teaching dance.