Rex Harrington

Rex Harrington
Damien D. · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Rex Harrington
Birth date	30 July 1962
Birth place	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher
Years active	1980s–present

Rex Harrington is a Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher known for his long tenure as a principal dancer with a leading Canadian ballet company. He gained international recognition for performances in classical and contemporary repertoire, collaborating with choreographers and companies across North America and Europe. Harrington has since contributed to dance education, artistic direction, and public advocacy for the performing arts.

Early life and training

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Harrington trained at local institutions before joining professional schools linked to major companies. He studied with teachers associated with the National Ballet of Canada and regional companies, receiving instruction informed by lineages connected to figures such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Frederick Ashton, and George Balanchine. Early opportunities included workshops and competitions affiliated with organizations like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Prix de Lausanne, and the Canada Council for the Arts that helped launch his professional trajectory.

Ballet career

Harrington rose through the ranks of a principal North American company during the 1980s and 1990s, performing at venues including the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the National Arts Centre, and international stages such as the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera House, and the Bolshoi Theatre. He partnered with principal dancers and guest artists from institutions like the American Ballet Theatre, the Paris Opera Ballet, the Kirov Ballet, and the Australian Ballet. Harrington also guested with ensembles including the San Francisco Ballet, the Dutch National Ballet, and the Royal Swedish Ballet, extending his profile through tours and festivals such as the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Major roles and repertoire

Harrington's repertoire encompassed leading parts in canonical works by choreographers linked to the Classical Ballet tradition and contemporary creators. His signature roles included leads in ballets by Kenneth MacMillan, John Cranko, Christopher Wheeldon, Marcia Haydée, and William Forsythe. He was acclaimed for interpretations in productions of Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev), Giselle, and Don Quixote, as well as contemporary pieces by creators associated with the Royal Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Béjart Ballet Lausanne. Collaborations with choreographers from the Canadian contemporary dance scene and commissions from institutions such as the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Shaw Festival diversified his stage work.

Awards and honours

Throughout his career Harrington received national recognition and awards presented by cultural institutions and governments. He was the recipient of honors connected to bodies like the Governor General of Canada and arts organizations including the Order of Canada, provincial arts councils, and theatre awards akin to the Dora Mavor Moore Award. His accolades reflect ties to festivals and institutions such as the Canada Dance Festival, the Toronto Arts Council, and the National Ballet School of Canada.

Teaching and artistic direction

After retiring from full-time performance, Harrington transitioned to teaching, coaching, and artistic direction with schools and companies linked to the National Ballet School of Canada, university arts faculties, and regional companies like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He has served on juries for competitions including the Prix de Lausanne and acted as a guest teacher for institutions such as The Juilliard School, School of American Ballet, and conservatories affiliated with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). His leadership roles involved programming, repertory curation, and mentorship within networks connecting the Canadian Stage, provincial arts organizations, and international festivals.

Media appearances and public advocacy

Harrington expanded his public profile through media appearances on Canadian television and radio outlets associated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, arts documentaries about companies such as the National Ballet of Canada and festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival. He has advocated for arts funding and accessibility in forums involving the Canada Council for the Arts, provincial cultural ministries, and municipal arts committees. His public engagement included collaborations with arts charities, benefit galas alongside artists from the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and partnerships with health initiatives and education programs connected to institutions like Kids Help Phone and community arts centres.

Category:Canadian male ballet dancers Category:People from Toronto Category:Living people