the Ballet
Ballet Encyclopedia

Veronica Tennant

born: 1946

English. Studied with the National Ballet School of Canada. The youngest principal dancer with the National Ballet, she debuted as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at eighteen.

Danced with the National Ballet of Canada for twenty five years, has danced every major classical role and had several contemporary ballets created for her. She has danced with every great male dancer of her generation including Erik Bruhn, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

She is acclaimed as a gifted communicator and is the bilingual spokesperson for the National Ballet of Canada. In 1992 she received a joint honourary Doctor of Law degree. She is the author of two children's books, On Stage, Please and The Nutcracker and has contributed to many parts of the media including newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1975, and is the Honorary chairperson of UNICEF.