Frank Augustyn

Head Instructor

Frank Augustyn was trained at the prestigious National Ballet School of Canada.  In 1970 he was invited to join the National Ballet Company of Canada and in 1972 promoted to principal dancer.   In 1973, he and Karen Kain won 1st place for the best Pas de Deux at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow.  That win catapulted Augustyn and Kain, and they enjoyed a fabled partnership throughout their performing career.  
   
Throughout his illustrious career Augustyn danced all the major classical roles as well as a number of significant roles in contemporary repertoire. He established himself as a guest artist and danced in nearly every major city in the world.  He has danced as a guest artists with numerous ballet companies including, Boston Ballet, Royal Ballet, Turin Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Beijing Ballet, Berlin Opera Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and Kirov Ballet.  He was a regular guest artist at the Metropolitan State Opera House, NYC.  
Augustyn has worked with the most highly celebrated choreographers including, Rudolf Nureyev, Erik Bruhn, Frederick Ashton, John Cranko, Hans Van Mannen, Maurice Béjart, Nicholas Beriozoff, Rudi van Danzig, Jose Limon, Kenneth McMillan and Glen Tetley.

Frank Augustyn is the recipient of numerous awards of distinction including, Honorary Doctorate Degrees from York University and McMaster University in 1979 and Trent University in 2003 where additionally he was named the 2000-2001 Ashley Fellow. 
In 1979 he received the title Officer, Order of Canada (O.C.) for his outstanding achievement in the arts. 

Frank Augustyn has been the Artistic Director of Ottawa Ballet and Le Gala des Étoiles an annual international dance event held in major cities throughout the world. He has authored Footnotes Dancing the World’s Best Loved Ballets published in 2001, named as one of the top ten Canadian best books for children in 2003 - Hackmatack Choice Book Awards; and, in 2000 he wrote his Memoirs, Dancing from the Heart - A Memoir.  He co-produced, co-wrote and hosted a documentary series Footnotes, the Classics of Ballet seen on Bravo Television United States and Canada, it has been translated into four languages and shown around the world. 

Frank Augustyn holds the position of Chair of the Dance Department, Adelphi University, NY.

• Phone : (516) 476-3339
• info[at]classicalschoolofballetli.com