Dancer Has Whole World At Gifted Feet

Newcastle Herald

Thursday October 23, 2008

By MELEENA SMITH

AT the age of 22 former Toronto resident Damian Smith has found international success in the ballet scene, with leading roles in productions across Europe and the United States.

The youngest of six children, who were interested in various sports, at the age of 10 Mr Smith began ballet tuition at Robin Hicks School of Dance at Toronto.

In 1996, after working for the Concorde Dance Company, based in Paris, and the Ballet du Nord in Roubaix, Mr Smith joined the San Francisco Ballet, said to be the oldest ballet company in the United States. In 1998 he was promoted to soloist then to principal dancer in 2001.

He has been cast in more than 50 leading roles and toured Europe. In 2002 he was featured on the front cover of the prestigious New York Times' arts section. He also appeared on a US postage stamp honouring the ballet company in 2005.

Proud mother Barbara Smith said that Damian "enjoys a very public and recognised profile in the United States and various other countries around the world".

Mrs Smith has a large collection of postcards, photographs, ballet programs and other memorabilia.

"I've even got a poster of him that appears on the sides of buses!"

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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