In Memoriam

David Scott

The National Ballet of Canada mourns the loss of former Principal Ballet Master and dancer David Scott, who died on 25 juillet at the age of 90.

Born in Ceylon in 1928 and raised in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, David Scott fell in love with ballet after seeing a performance of Swan Lake as a young child. Despite parental opposition he decided to pursue a career in dance. After moving to London he worked with former Ballets Russes artists Lubov Tchernicheva and Sergei Gregorieff performing much of the Diaghilev and Ballets Russes repertoire. He joined London Festival Ballet after its founding in 1950 and danced with the company through its exciting and often precarious early years. In 1957, Mr. Scott married Joanne Nisbet and a year later, upon an invitation from Artistic Director Celia Franca, they joined the newly formed National Ballet of Canada. Mr. Scott performed a wide range of roles with the National Ballet, but repeated back injuries eventually forced him to leave the stage. He became Ballet Master in 1963 and Principal Ballet Master in 1983. Mr. Scott left the National Ballet in 1984 to work with companies throughout Europe, Canada and the US but remained a Guest Ballet Master with the company.

He is deeply missed.