The Vancouver Ballet Society (VBS) offers dance students exclusive Master Classes with prominent artists and companies in Canada. In the spring, an intensive workshop (Spring Seminar) is held with highly regarded dance instructors and the awarding of scholarships. The Society houses an extensive archive collection, with pieces dating back to 1912, and formerly published the acclaimed Dance International magazine.
The Vancouver Ballet Society aims to be an artistic service organization that is relevant, accessible, and welcoming to everyone. We acknowledge the historic inequities of our artform and as such we are committed to cultivating and embracing a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization, while preserving the integrity of the art form and maintaining the highest artistic standards.
To this end, the VBS recognizes and is open to representing individual or group differences encompassing age, ability or disability, marriage or partnership, parental status, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other areas of identity.
The VBS ensures fairness and professionalism in all its dealings and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or victimization. We intentionally foster an environment wherein the individual or group can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate.
September 2021
Founded in 1946, the Vancouver Ballet Society is a unique, non-profit organization committed to supporting and revitalizing dance through education, encouragement and assistance. Our primary mission is raising scholarship funds for young, talented British Columbians, encouraging them to continue their training and studies both in Canada and around the world.
Maureen Allen Jane Welsh
President Member at Large
Jo-Ann Gordon Erin Duncan
Vice President Member at Large
Jane Wace Deborah Morgan
Treasurer Member at Large
Jean Orr Shirley Chiu
Secretary Member at Large
Sheila Smith Clare Venner
Spring Seminar Chair Member at Large
Johana López
Office Administrator
Kaija Pepper
Former Editor – Dance International
Jacky Fung
Website Developer
The Vancouver Ballet Society Library and Archives is a read-in library. It houses an extensive collection of books from Broadway to ballet, biographies, programmes, magazines, and dance articles. The Library and Archives is open to all members of the community interested in dance and dance history.
The focus of the VBS collection is paper records, including material related to dance workshops from the late 1950s to the present, as well as clippings and programmes. The VBS also has periodicals and an extensive collection of dance books.
The Library and Archives is open most weekdays, excluding statutory holidays. Appointments for the reading room can be made through the VBS office (604-681-1525). Photocopies of material are permitted in accordance with copyright laws.
Please consider donating to the Vancouver Ballet Society Library and Archives. The VBS is currently in the process of creating an in-house and eventually an online catalogue for British Columbia's most treasured dance records. Tax receipts are issued for donations over $20.
Donations of dance related literature are always welcome!
The Vancouver Ballet Society is grateful to the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations for their continued stewardship of the unceded and occupied land on which our work takes place. As an organization founded and predominantly directed by settlers and immigrants, we understand our responsibility to seek out and build authentic relationships with Indigenous communities, and to allow this ongoing dialogue to influence our practices.
