The HARID Conservatory

Executive Vice-President and Director

Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, Gordon Wright began his dance training on Vancouver Island. Before deciding to pursue a professional career in dance, he worked as a counselor and group leader in several treatment facilities for troubled children and adolescents. Mr. Wright eventually moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to complete his dance training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. After graduating, he joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) Company and toured across Canada and the United States, as well as to Ireland, England, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt. He worked with many noted choreographers including Agnes de Mille, Rudi van Dantzig, Hans van Manen, and Vicente Nebrada.

After retiring as a dancer, Mr. Wright was awarded a Canada Council grant to undertake a teacher-training program with the RWB School. Upon completion of the program, he joined the RWB School faculty where he taught for the next five years. During this same period, Mr. Wright began his administrative career, serving as a school vice principal. He was later promoted to school administrator.

Mr. Wright holds a certificate in administrative management from the University of Winnipeg and has attended numerous training programs in arts management. He is a former director of the National Association of Schools of Dance and served on the Association’s Commission on Accreditation.

Mr. Wright joined The HARID Conservatory in the winter of 1992 as director of dance. Since that time, he has dedicated himself to the realization of Fred Lieberman’s dream of developing an internationally respected, tuition-free performing arts conservatory where talent is the primary criterion for admission. HARID’s mission has guided Wright’s decisions regarding the dance curriculum, faculty, academic education, and residence life.

During his thirty-one-year tenure as HARID’s executive vice-president and director, Mr. Wright has worked tirelessly with the Board of Trustees, staff, and faculty to ensure the careful stewardship of Mr. Lieberman’s philanthropic dream. In doing so, he has fostered a culture that values not only artistic excellence, but also academic achievement, personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and mutual respect for others.