Mirdza Grikis Dambergs

Tribute to the Lives of:

Madame Mirdza Grikis Dambergs

and Nickolajs (Nick) Dambergs

Former ballet students, wishing to recognize the extraordinary life of Madame Mirdza Dambergs, an accomplished Prima Ballerina and teacher, along with her husband Nick, who also made a tremendous contribution to Canada, have purchased bricks for The Sobey Wall of Honour at Pier 21.

The following students contributed to this endeavour:

Laura, Candace, Lesley, Sherry, Pam, Sharon, Dianne, Jeannie, Alexa, Karen, Pam, Jana, Dolores, Victoria, Mary, Nora, Debbie and Shirley.

Madame Dambergs, a Prima Ballerina with the Lativian National Opera, had a long record of achievement. She studied under many of Europe's famous teachers, such as Feodorova and Preobrajenska and performed in most of Europe's capitals. Mirdza was known as one of the ‘Greats' in ballet and was awarded The Cross of Merit, by the Latvian Government in 2000 when she returned to her homeland after an absence of 50 years.

Madame Dambergs, Nick Dambergs and their young family arrived at Pier 21 in February 1954 from France via Germany after having fled frightening conditions during the Russian occupation of Latvia. This wonderful and courageous woman initially taught at the Halifax Conservatory of Music, but soon left to begin her own school of dance in Halifax. For 30 years, Mme. Dambergs School of Ballet brought qualified and exceptional knowledge of all forms of dance to her students who adored her. Her ability to perfectly choreograph dance coupled with a brilliance for costume design, culminated in annual recitals which her Halifax audiences warmly received. Madame Dambergs was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal as a recognition by Canada for her contribution to dance, music and fine arts.

The ballet culture of Halifax was forever changed and enhanced by the presence of Mme. Dambergs. To recognize the marvelous contribution she made as an immigrant to Canada and to show appreciation for the impact she had on all of our lives as we studied and learned, we, her students are proud to share her story with Pier 21.

Any ongoing contributions may be made to The Pier 21 Society and directed to the Research Department Library where books purchased will be book-plated to her memory.

Submitted by Mme Dambergs' Ballet Students

Mirdza Grikis Dambergs

The history of ballet and classical music in Halifax is closely tied to the Latvian dancers and artists who fled their homeland after World War 2. Without them, the people of Nova Scotia would have had little access to the classical ballet traditions of Europe.

Mirdza Grikis Dambergs, former Prima Ballerina of The Latvian National Opera came to Halifax with her family from Riga Latvia by way of Paris in 1954. They chose to stay in Halifax because they loved the ocean, the woods and the fishing. The closeness to nature and the climate reminded them of Latvia. Starting life anew was difficult. They came without possessions and although her husband Nik spoke English, Mirdza spoke very little. They were more fortunate than many because her husband Nik, as an analytical chemist, was able to find work immediately and Mirdza was invited to become the head of the ballet department with the Conservatory of Music.

In 1954 there were three Latvian ballet dancers in Halifax and a number of Latvian opera singers. The dancers had written to Mirdza, while she was living in Paris to ask her if she would consider teaching ballet in Halifax. The dancers who were established in Halifax wished to dance with the newly formed National Ballet in Toronto, and because of their recommendation, the Halifax Conservatory invited Mrs. Dambergs to head the ballet department.

Nevertheless life was not easy in the beginning. The Dambergs family arrived in Halifax through Pier 21 on Valentine's Day after a rough sea voyage across the Atlantic. The weather in Halifax when they arrived was a depressing mixture of ice and snow and rain. Although they had work almost immediately, their wages were extremely small compared to what they were used to in Europe, and they had three children as well as Mr. Dambergs' mother. Since they arrived with only the clothes on their back and boxes of books, they had to buy everything.

Mirdza Grikis Dambergs, Prima Ballerina of the Latvian Nation Opera, known as Mme. Dambergs to Haligonians, had a long record of achievement. At the age of seven, young Mirdza won her first of many prizes in an international dance competition in Vienna. After having completed the full course, first of rhythmic dancing, then of classical ballet under the direction of the famous prima ballerina and teacher Alexandra Feodorova ( who taught in New York ), and Anatol Vilzak, Mirdza rapidly ascended to the leading roles, and soon topped the great Latvian Ballet Company of one hundred dancers. She worked with Mr. Pianovsky, former ballet master of the Anna Pavlova Ballet Company.

With Harry Plucis as her partner (who later joined the Sadler Wells Ballet), Mirdza, as Prima Ballerina, performed the leading roles in more than twenty great ballets. The title role of Esmeralda alone, she performed seventy-five times, a record to be rarely found in the annals of ballet. Having received government scholarships, she completed her studies in classical ballet, choreography, and folkloric dance in Berlin with Victor Gzovski, in London with Nicholas and Nadina Legat, and in Paris with the world celebrated Spanish dancers Dolores Moreno, Olga Preobrajenska and Lubova Egorava. She became Latvia's leading expert in Spanish and Flamenco dance. While touring with the Latvian National Ballet, Mirdza performed in most of the European capitals.

The Cross of Merit, awarded by the Latvian National Government, shows the esteem with which she is recognized. Mirdza has been described as a great artist, vivid on stage with precise knowledge of technique and exceptional powers of interpretation in her dancing. Her record breaking performance of seventy-two fouettes created a sensation at the Opera. Then came leading roles in Don Quixote, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame and a Latvian ballet - Ilga - where she proved to her audience that not only was she unparalleled technically, but she also performed with deeply felt spiritual expression.

Mirdza, married to an analytical chemist (Nikolajs Dambergs) and the mother of three children, (Janis - translator and academic), (Roberts - architect) and (Marija - retired teacher and present day glass artist) came to Halifax from Paris in 1954. She had numerous successful performances and dance recitals with her local pupils in which she was unanimously acclaimed for her unlimited knowledge of the various forms of dance and her outstanding skill as teacher and performer. Mirdza was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Gold Medal for her outstanding and exemplary contributions to Nova Scotians in classical ballet, other dance forms and classical music.

Submitted by daughter Marija