Teresa Mann

(1934-2017)

The National Ballet of Canada was saddened by the passing of Teresa Mann on 6 juillet, 2017, an alumna of the company who was later a founding member of the National Ballet of Panama.

Teresa Mann graduated from the School of Peruvian Ballet and went on to study at Holy Names College in Oakland, California and in New York with Margaret Craske and Antony Tudor. She danced with The National Ballet of Canada from 1956 to 1961, from 1961-1963 she performed with various companies in Europe before returning to her native Panama where she advocated for a professional ballet company, culminating in the formation of the National Ballet of Panama in 1972. She also founded the Teresa Mann School of Dance and the Teresa Mann Ballet in 1965 and 1975, respectively. In 2000, Teresa was made a Grand Officer of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero, Panama’s highest honour, in recognition of her contribution to the development of culture in Panama.

Teresa Mann in Les Sylphides (1956). Photo par Ken Bell.