A big Koba congrats to our Creative Producer Patti Caplette! Last night, she won a Women of Distinction Award for the Arts. Patti has been working in the Canadian arts community for close to 40 years. She is considered a groundbreaker, and among her many accomplishments, she has made a profound difference towards women’s rights in dance. As the first RWB prima ballerina to work through pregnancy and return to performing only months later, Patti opened doors for discussion that paved the way for other women dancers in Manitoba to receive full support from dance companies and organizations. Previously, women in dance were discouraged from having children, because pregnancy almost certainly meant the end of a career. But Patti was determined to overcome this hurdle. Dancing up until she was seven months pregnant, Patti proved to other dancers that the impossible could be done; that a fulfilling career in dance was still possible beyond pregnancy. Because of women like Patti, esteemed RWB principles such as Tara Birtwhistle and Emily Grizzel maintained successful roles as both dancers and mothers with full support from their Company, including maternity leave benefits. We are so proud of this inspiring woman and mother! A well deserved honour.
Posted on: Thu, 08 May 2014 17:56:00 +0000