Robert Stephen is an award-winning Canadian choreographer.

His highly musical work is rooted in classical ballet, while drawing strongly from contemporary dance practices, fresh storytelling, and collaboration.

He is a former First Soloist with the National Ballet of Canada, where for fourteen years he performed a diverse range of repertoire by James Kudelka, Crystal Pite, Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon. He went on to join Gauthier Dance/Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart, where he performed works by Ohad Naharin, Hofesh Shechter and William Forsythe.

Since his return to Canada, Robert has been commissioned by Ballet Kelowna for three consecutive seasons to choreograph Celestial Mechanics (2021), In the Light of the Waking Sun (2022), and the evening-length story ballet Mustard (2024) based on the award-winning play by Kat Sandler. He has also joined the artistic faculty at Canada’s National Ballet School, where he teaches, mentors and choreographs for the Professional Ballet and Company Life programs.

He is the past recipient of the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award from the Banff Centre, the Audience Choice Award for Best New Choreography at the Erik Bruhn Competition, and a Creative Partnerships Commission from Dance Ontario. As a dancer, he was awarded the Patron Award of Merit, the Rolex Dancers First Award, and the David Tory Award, and as a student, he received the Peter Dwyer Award.

Robert is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School, where he began his choreographic journey in the Stephen Godfrey Choreographic Workshops. He has been dancing since age three, when he started taking ballet, jazz and tap lessons at Linda Collins School of Dance in his hometown of Burlington, Ontario.

WORKS

  • Mustard (2024) – Ballet Kelowna

    • Original Music: Owen Belton (50 minutes)

  • Crosswinds (2024) – Canada’s National Ballet School

    • Music: Haydn (4 minutes)

  • Lavender Echoes (2023) – Canada’s National Ballet School, Company Life Program

    • Music: Logan Nelson (8 minutes)

  • In the Light of the Waking Sun (2022) – Ballet Kelowna

    • Music: Schubert (23 minutes)

  • Boundless (2022) – Canada’s National Ballet School, Spring Showcase

    • Music: Schubert (11 minutes)

  • Celestial Mechanics (2021) – Ballet Kelowna

    • Music: Beethoven (20 minutes)

  • re:connection (2020) – Gauthier Dance/Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart

    • Music: Ólafur Arnalds (6 minutes)

  • Chilly Dances (2018) – Evelyn Hart Conservatory

    • Music: Chilly Gonzales (17 minutes)

  • Origin (2018) – Echo Chamber Toronto

    • Music: Ysaÿe, Bach (30 minutes)

  • Suite in Old Style (2018) – The National Ballet of Canada, Five Creations

    • Music: Dobrinka Tabakova (13 minutes)

  • Chilly Dances No. 1 & 2 (2015) – The National Ballet of Canada Choreographic Lab

    • Music: Chilly Gonzales (6 minutes)

  • Acoustic Resonance (2012) – The National Ballet of Canada Choreographic Lab

    • Music: Beethoven (5 minutes)

  • Two Dances “En Plein Air” (2011) – dance: made in canada/fait au canada

    • Music: Elgar, Kreisler (7 minutes)

  • Hold Me, Neighbour, in this Storm (2011) – The Banff Centre, Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award

    • Music: Aleksandra Vrebalov/Kronos Quartet (22 minutes)

  • Passacaglia (2011) – Erik Bruhn Competition, Audience Choice Award, Best New Choreography

    • Music: Handel/Halvorsen (7 minutes)

  • On A Landing (2010) – The National Ballet of Canada Choreographic Lab

    • Music: Ysaÿe (13 minutes)

  • In the Cantina (2010) – Creative Partnerships Commission, Dance Ontario

    • Music: Daedelus (16 minutes)

  • Rubato (2008) – The National Ballet of Canada Choreographic Lab

    • Music: Meredith Monk (11 minutes)

  • City at Dusk (2007) – Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Concert Series

    • Music: Beirut (5 minutes)

  • Ravel Duets (2006) – The National Ballet of Canada Choreographic Lab

    • Music: Ravel (8 minutes)

DANCER

The National Ballet of Canada (2004–2018)

Selected Credits:

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Christopher Wheeldon) – Mad Hatter, White Rabbit

  • Hamlet (Kevin O’Day) – Title role

  • Pinocchio (Will Tuckett) – Title role

  • Emergence (Crystal Pite) – solo, world premiere

  • Chroma, Genus (Wayne McGregor) – solo, company premiere

  • numerous works by James Kudelka

  • works by Alexei Ratmansky, Aszure Barton, Jorma Elo, Twyla Tharp, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine

Gauthier Dance / Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart (2018-2020)

Selected Credits:

  • Herman Schmerman Pas de Deux (William Forsythe)

  • Uprising (Hofesh Shechter)

  • Minus 16 and Decadance (Ohad Naharin)

  • For D (Guy Weizman and Roni Haver) – world premiere

  • works by Eric Gauthier, Andonis Foniadakis, Cayetano Soto, Virginie Brunelle, Po-Cheng Tsai

TEACHER

Canada’s National Ballet School

  • Guest contemporary faculty – 2020-2021

  • Full-time staff, Professional Ballet & Company Life Programs – 2021-2023

  • Part-time ballet staff, choreographer, repetiteur – 2023-present

Photo: Abigail Weins