Snow Flake Posted June 11, 2001 Share Posted June 11, 2001 I saw a video of Merry Widow with the National Ballet of Canadá, and the ballerina who did the role of Hanna was Karen Kain. Does anyone know something about this dancer? She is very good in the video, but I never heard about her. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted June 11, 2001 Share Posted June 11, 2001 Snow Flake, Karen Kain just retired a few years ago, and was the principal (and much loved) ballerina of the National Ballet of Canada for many years. I'm sure our Canadian posters can tell you more. She was a favorite of Nureyev's, even though she was quite tall, and she joined him on several of his "Nureyev and Friends" tours. She was a classical ballerina (the company favorite in "Sleeping Beauty" and "Swan Lake") but did dramatic roles as well. Link to comment
Juliet Posted June 11, 2001 Share Posted June 11, 2001 She has an autobiography, called Movement Never Lies. It is most inforrmative; if you cannot buy it, your library should certainly be able to obtain it for you to borrow. Link to comment
dirac Posted June 11, 2001 Share Posted June 11, 2001 There are also a couple of documentary videos with Kain as the subject, although the titles escape me at the moment. I would agree with Juliet that "Movement Never Lies" is definitely worth a read. Kain's longtime partner at the National, Frank Augustyn, has also written his memoirs, which I haven't read yet. Link to comment
Snow Flake Posted June 12, 2001 Author Share Posted June 12, 2001 Thank you for these informations! ;) Link to comment
Paquita Posted June 13, 2001 Share Posted June 13, 2001 Karen Kain appears in the video of Rudolph Nureyev's Sleeping Beauty ( Veronica Tennant as Aurora) in the Bluebird variations with Frank Augustyn- they won a silver medal at the Moscow IBC with this pdd I believe. Frank Augustyn's autobiography is called "Dancing from the Heart". I've read half of it, but to me, in terms of writing, Karen's autobiography is much better ( and her book has lovely colour photos as well). Currently, she is artistic associate for the National Ballet. Link to comment
Colleen Posted June 15, 2001 Share Posted June 15, 2001 Karen Kain is generally considered to be the best classical ballerina that Canada has ever produced. It's kind of sad that she isn't more renowned world wide. Link to comment
Taryn Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 Karen Kain is my most favorite dancer of all time!! She is so wonderful to watch. I agree that its a shame that she is not known world wide. In Canada she is very well known. She had a long successful career here with NBOC! One of her finest performances I'd say is in the ballet done by NBOC on her farewell tour called "The Actress". It's very interesting and she dances it wonderfully! Link to comment
Perfect Performer Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 When I first found about Karen Kain, Was when I read an Article on her in "Highlights, For children" Decmber 1990 edition. The Article is called "Karen Kain: Dreaming on Tiptoes." :rolleyes: Link to comment
Mashinka Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 I would like to reassure the Canadian posters that Karen Kain is still remembered with admiration and affection for her performances here in London. Link to comment
BattementCloche Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 I agree with Taryn! I LOVE Karen Kain -- she is definitely my favorite dancer of all time...she's SUCH a beautiful dancer. Especially when she dances with Frank Augustyn. I like her Bluebird pas de deux with Augustyn best...that and the Merry Widow, and her Juliet pas de deux, and... Link to comment
dirac Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 It's fun to read the Kain/Augustyn memoirs and compare accounts. Karen: I want to work at something until it's absolutely right. Frank: That's great, but my back is killing me from doing this lift a jillion times. (Both of them are united, however, in their praise of and gratitude to Nureyev.) Link to comment
Marga Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 In addition to their dancing, both Karen Kain and Frank Augustyn are absolutely lovely people. Karen Kain is indeed a Canadian icon. Everyone in the country -- ballet fan or not -- knows who she is. Karen was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1977 and Frank Augustyn received the same honour in 1979. He, by the way, is presently, and has been for a few years, the director of the Dance Department at Adelphi University in Garden City, on Long Island, New York (my alma mater!). Link to comment
exballetstudent Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 I noticed that the original post for Karen Kain is like 3 years back, however, if you would like to see more documentry or video clips of Karen since she was 20, you may go to CBC's website at http://archives.cbc.ca/300c.asp?id=1-68-1002 There's a clip of her dancing with Frank as well! Link to comment
Paquita Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Thanks for posting that link! The video of Karen and Frank dancing Fille is great:) Link to comment
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