Gradimir pankov biography of albert

It’s a brutal, bone-chilling, windy Montréal afternoon. As a gust literally blows me indoors, Gradimir Pankov, artistic director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal (Les Grands), greets me with a friendly smile and open arms.

Pankov has a reputation for being straightforward and charming, and no doubt those well-honed skills have served him in his significant and defining run at the job. After we settle in, he exudes both warmth and insecurity about what he might say regarding his ten years at the helm of the storied and revered ballet company founded in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff.

Gradimir pankov biography of albert einstein

Asked what specific character trait it takes to be artistic director of the troupe, he measures his response. “You have to have the desire to bring people together,” he replies.

Editor’s Note: In The Dance Current May 2010 print magazine, we published a profile of Gradimir Pankov, artistic director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, by Philip Szporer.