About Betty Oliphant
Lived 1918 – 2004 (aged 85). Betty Oliphant was a Canadian and British ballet dancer and dancer, known for National Ballet School of Canada.
Nancy Elizabeth Oliphant (August 5, 1918 – July 12, 2004) was a co-founder of the National Ballet School of Canada.
Life Oliphant was born in London in 1918. She studied with Tamara Karsavina, Laurent Novikoff and Marie Rambert. By the age of 17, she had opened her own school having decided that she was too tall to be top dancer herself. In 1988, the National Ballet School of Canada named its new performance space the Betty Oliphant Theatre. In 1996, she published an autobiography Miss O: My Life in Dance . She was appointed a Member of the Order of Ontario (OOnt) in 2000.
She died in St. Catharines, Ontario at the age of 85.
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Important facts
People in Betty Oliphant's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Betty Oliphant?
Canadian ballerina (1918-2004)
When was Betty Oliphant born?
Betty Oliphant was born on 5 August 1918 in London.
When did Betty Oliphant die?
Betty Oliphant died on 12 July 2004 in St. Catharines.
What was Betty Oliphant's occupation?
Betty Oliphant was a ballet dancer and dancer.
What was Betty Oliphant known for?
Betty Oliphant was known for National Ballet School of Canada.
What nationality was Betty Oliphant?
Betty Oliphant was Canadian and British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Betty Oliphant. https://biography.guide/betty-oliphant/
MLA: "Betty Oliphant." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/betty-oliphant/.
Chicago: "Betty Oliphant." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/betty-oliphant/.
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