The Winnipeg Ballet Club debuted in June 1939, performing two prairie-themed ballets as part of a city-wide pageant welcoming King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. In 1953, the group was given its Royal charter, becoming the first ballet company in Canada to receive the privilege.
Although the ballet struggled financially and artistically through the 1940s and 1950s, by the 1960s, its fortunes had turned around. Under the direction of Arnold Spohr, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet became internationally renowned. Spohr retired in 1988. Today, the ballet continues to dazzle, bringing original and innovative productions to the stage.
To celebrate the RWB and to commemorate its 75th season, the Royal Canadian Mint has debuted an innovate new $20 .999 silver commemorative coin.
The coin’s reverse design features an overhead view of six dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s recent production of Sleeping Beauty. Together, the dancers form the shape of a snowflake.
Their dresses are colorized using an advanced “Sheer Effect” colorization technique that mimics the shimmery soft-colored costumes of the actual ballet. The use of this technique is a first for the Royal Canadian Mint.
In another first, the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet $20 Coin is packaged in a music box that plays Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty (Valse) melody when opened.
Mintage is limited to 7500 pieces (2 per household). Cost is $114.95 CAD.
Visit the Royal Canadian Mint’s website for ordering details.
