David Yeddeau

honour roll inductee

Biography

David Yeddeau began his career with the Winnipeg Ballet at its inception in 1939. He was first assigned as Stage Manager and Technical Assistant to Gweneth Lloyd, but his responsibilities grew to include publicity and company manager. Additionally, he did make up for the first official performance of the Winnipeg Ballet on June 11, 1940. Later, Arnold Spohr would refer to him as being a member of the “Holy Trinity” (which included Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally). Whenever the Ballet Club needed money, he would approach his wealthy friends for donations. In March 1947, the company needed to raise $25,000 to perform at a choreographic competition in Copenhagen. Although they were only able to raise $15,000 and were therefore unable to attend, the majority of the money raised was due to David’s efforts and connections.

Mr. Yeddeau designed the sets for Ballet Blanc, Beauty and the Beast (1941), Backstage 1897, and Etude, as well as the costumes and scenario for The Shooting of Dan McGrew. He used the pseudonym “Joe Blowe” to create Chapter 13 and Pleasure Cruise with Betty Farrally as “Josephine Blowe”.

Mr. Yeddeau was responsible for the creation of the Canadian Ballet Festivals, first hosted by Winnipeg in 1948. In spite of a last-minute change of location due to a flood, a dance floor ruined by elephants, and escalating costs, he successfully brought together the Boris Volkoff Canadian ballet, the Ruth Sorel Dance Group, and the Winnipeg Ballet to perform for the first time. The ballet festivals would continue until 1954 and resulted in the establishment of the National Ballet Association which named David its first president. The Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association was also established as the result of the annual festivals.

The success of the Canadian Dance Festivals led to the creation of the National Ballet of Canada. After he left the RWB and moved to Toronto, Mr. Yeddeau became involved with the creation of the Canadian Opera Company and was responsible for many of the CNE Grandstand productions in Toronto. He also served as the Managing Director of various theatre companies across Canada. David Yeddeau died on August 30, 1992 in Toronto, Ontario.