Lynn Abra

Lynette Fry, circa 1959. Credit: Allan Jerry Cozzubbo [10]

Lynette "Lynn" Fry-Abra (born 1935) is a ballet dancer and teacher living in Calgary, Alberta.

Early life

Lynette Fry was born in South Africa in 1935.

She trained at the Royal Ballet School in London on a scholarship, and also trained in ballet Holland, Paris and France.

She came to Canada in her teens.

Career

From at least 1959 to 1966, she danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company as prima ballerina.

In 1967, she moved to Calgary, where she has been a longtime instructor with the School of Alberta Ballet. From at least 2010, she has been a part-time teacher in the Open Division (for adults) in Calgary. [7]

She was a teacher at Allan Cozzubo Academy of Dancing (ACAD). ACAD was a Calgary school that taught Tap, Ballet, and presumably other styles, from September 1963 - June 1997 (34 years). It's unclear what subset of that time Mrs. Abra was a teacher, but it was likely during at least the 1980s and 1990s.

In 2011, she was on the board of directors of the Delta Festival Ballet of New Orleans. [1]

Around 2010, she organized her private teaching into a school she called "Ballet Royale School":

Company Name: Ballet Royale School
Contact Person: Lynette Fry-Abra
Contact Position: Owner
Address: 2202 Hawksbrow Point NW, Calgary, AB T3G 4C9
Phone: 403 547 3777

Personal life

She was married to Dr. Jock Abra. In 1988, he published a journal article entitled "The Dancer as Masochist" [9]. As of 2019 he is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Calgary. [8]

She was later in a relationship with a man named "Smilie", who died in 1998.

Lynn has a son, who lives in America.

Teaching Michael

Lynn taught Michael Currie in Fall 2007, and then privately from Fall 2009 to about 2014.

Do Not Go Gently

Lynette Fry-Abra has spent a lifetime building a distinguished career in dance. Lynette’s involvement with dance began in South Africa, where she grew up and received her early training. As a young woman, she won the Adeline Genée award from the Royal Academy of Dance in England. Shortly thereafter, she was chosen to perform with Margot Fonteyn and Michael Somes in Swan Lake. She has also received the Ruby Ginner award in London from the Classical Greek Dance Association and later the Solo Seal in South Africa.
Following training at The Royal Ballet School in London on scholarship, along with training in Holland, Paris and France; Lynette fulfilled the role of prima ballerina with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company from 1959 to 1966. During this time, she taught at summer schools hosted by this company and also had the opportunity to study in New York on scholarship for three summers. This was a period of her life in which she worked with people who were very influential to the development of her career.
Lynette moved to Calgary in 1967 and in subsequent years enjoyed doing choreography as well as teaching her students at the Banff School of Fine Arts (now the The Banff Centre), Alberta Ballet and the University of Calgary. She has adjudicated numerous competitions and festivals across Canada. Due to her success, Lynette has become a well-known teacher of dance in Canada.
In recent years, Lynette has taught her students at The School of Alberta Ballet, learned and competed in ballroom dance, and enjoyed time spent with her family. Throughout her career, she has seen the world of dance evolve, but appreciates that it remains a profession that requires the utmost dedication. In light of her lifetime of experience, Lynette could be considered one of the mothers of dance in this province.

— [10]