Lilian Jarvis

Lilian Jarvis (née Lilja Jaarvinen), born in 1931 in Toronto, Canada, was a charter member and principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada from 1951 to 1963, establishing herself as one of Canada's ballet pioneers. After leaving the dance world, she studied Martha Graham modern dance technique in New York City and founded Somatic Stretch®, a somatic movement practice; she notably returned to dance the role of Juliet in the National Ballet's 25th anniversary production of Romeo and Juliet. At age 89 in 2020, she continued teaching and inspiring others.