Biography: Vanessa Harwood O.C.

Ballet

Born in England and raised in Toronto, she attended the National Ballet School graduating in 1964. She joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1965 and became a principal dancer in 1970 until leaving the company in 1987.

She was best known for her performance in Swan Lake, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardée, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Dying Swan, Solitaire, and Elite Syncopations. She has had many illustrious dance partners, including Rudolf Nureyev, Alexander Godunov, Patrick Bissell, Frank Augustyn, Stephen Jeffries, and Gary Norman.

Ms. Harwood also appeared as the ballerina in the film “Stepping Out” in 1991. 

She coached bronze medal 1988 World and Olympic Ice Dance Champions, Tracy Wilson and Robert McCall.

Her debut in acting was with the Kingston Grand Theatre as Mollie Ralston in “The Mousetrap” in 1989. She spent a season as Artistic Associate with Theatre Plus Toronto. She has also appeared on the TV shows “Road to Avonlea”, “Due South”, and “Nero Wolfe”. Ms. Harwood was Artistic Director of Balletto Classicco from 1989 to 1993. Her last ballet performance was Balletto Classicco in 1993. She was also the President of the Actors’ Fund of Canada from 1996 to 1999. 

She was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1984. In 2002 she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal.

In 1999 Ms. Harwoood was inspired to begin photography. Since then she has photographed dance and has had her work published in the International Dance Magazine, the Toronto Star, Now Magazine, programs for Moving Pictures Festival, and “Mary Queen of Scots” by Susan Watkins. She has traveled to Turkey, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Costa Rica, U.S.A., and Canada to photograph their unique beauty. 

Ms. Harwood has a line of greeting cards for every occasion using her photographs.

“Contact: 2003 is her fourth exhibition.