Remembering Longtime Friends in Our Circle

The National Ballet of Canada mourns the passing of dear friends and Producers’ Circle members, Anna McCowan Johnson and Arthur Scace. Their passion and presence will be greatly missed.

Anna McCowan Johnson

Anna McCowan Johnson’s passion for ballet and dedication to teaching were inspirational. During her long career as a dance educator, including as founder and Artistic Director of Interplay School of Dance, she influenced many lives and introduced generations of young people to the joy of dance, both as participants and budding audience members. Anna was always proud to see how lives were touched and enriched through the joy of dance.

Anna was a dear friend to The National Ballet of Canada as well as to our artists. An active member of our audience, an advocate for ballet and an exemplar of the philanthropic spirit, Anna and her husband Don Johnson made leadership gifts to the Bold Steps Campaign in 1994 and the Soaring Campaign in 2016. They also joined the Dancers First sponsorship programme in 2016, building on their strong connection with Principal Dancer Svetlana Lunkina.

In 2016, Don set up The Anna McCowan Johnson Dance Accessibility Fund within The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation to honour Anna’s lifetime commitment to dance. The named fund supports existing and new strategic community engagement initiatives that give young people a chance to engage meaningfully with the National Ballet.

The National Ballet will greatly miss Anna’s presence at performances, her commitment to our artists, and her far-reaching impact on learning institutions, performance companies and dance theatres in Canada.

Arthur Scace, C.M., Q.C.

An inspirational philanthropist, Arthur Scace was a close friend to The National Ballet of Canada. Together with his wife Susan, Arthur provided decades of influential support to the company through the Patrons’ Council and The Producers’ Circle, including a leadership gift to Karen Kain’s forthcoming Swan Lake.

Arthur was a member of the Campaign Cabinet of the Canadian Opera House Corporation that raised the funds to build the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, a project he and Susan supported independently through the National Ballet’s Next Steps campaign. Arthur and Susan were also dedicated to the wellbeing of the dancers and gave generously to the Endowment Foundation. He will be deeply missed.

Contact

Marielle Bryck Manager, Major Gifts

T: 416 345 9686 x385 E: mbryck@national.ballet.ca

The National Ballet of Canada 470 Queens Quay West Toronto, Ontario M5V 3K4

national.ballet.ca

The National Ballet of Canada is a registered charity. Charitable Business Number: 11905 1449 RR0001

The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation is a registered charity. Charitable Business Number: 88989 8722 RR0001