102-year-old dancer takes centre stage during RWB’s Nutcracker

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet welcomed a very special guest to the stage last week during one of their performances of the Nutcracker.

102-year-old Lily Guberman, a resident at Simkin Centre and a member of the original Winnipeg Ballet Club in 1939, was asked to perform one of the walk-on roles in the beloved holiday classic. 

Lily Guberman graces the stage during the RWB’s Nutcracker.(The Saul & Claribel Simkin Centre/Facebook)

Guberman graced the stage in full costume in her wheelchair alongside her companion, Elna, making history as the oldest participant ever in the show.

RWB’s Artistic Director André Lewis introduced Lily to the crowd before the show and met with her after the performance. Associate Artistic Director, Tara Britwhistle also presented Lily with a bouquet following the show.

Lily said returning to the stage 85 years after her original debut brought her joy.

“How very proud I was to be a dancer in the first inaugural year of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet under the direction and leadership of its founders, Betty Farrally and Gweneth Lloyd!” said Lily.

The milestone was made more special when Lily’s daughter travelled from British Columbia to cheer her on.

“As we strolled through the lobby, Lily truly stole the show, greeting adoring fans with her signature hand wave and grace,” said the Simkin Centre in a post on Facebook. “Audience members were thrilled to meet our living legend after the performance. A huge thanks to the class act RWB for paving the way for our extraordinary star Lily to return to the stage in all her glory! She loved every minute of it!”