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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
LUND, Alan - was born 23 May 1925 in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in Toronto and began dancing at the age of seven. He met his future wife Blanche Harris and the two started dancing as a pair in their teens. The couple married 13 May 1944. Alan and Blanche became known as Canada's leading dance team, appearing in the World War II musical revue "Meet the Navy" which toured Canada for fifteen months before taking the show overseas. Following the end of the war, the couple continued to tour Europe and performed in a number of productions.
The Lunds returned to Canada in 1948. Alan and Blanche continued to perform together and were pioneers in the Canadian variety television industry, appearing in "Showtime," "Mr. Showbiz," "Parade," "Hit Parade," and "Big Revue." The Lunds were the first contract players to sign with CBC Television in 1952. Alan starting choreographing around 1950. He choreographed the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand shows for fourteen years and staged and choreographed the first professional company of Canada's musical dance theatre, "Les FeuxFollets." Alan also contributed to productions at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario.
Alan was the director and choreographer of the original "Anne of Green Gables: The Musical" at the Charlottetown Festival in 1965. He would serve as Artistic Director of the Charlottetown Festival from 1968 to 1986. Alan directed a number of productions during this time, including "Johnny Belinda," "Kronborg," "Peter Pan," "Good Time Johnny," "Oliver," and "Jane Eyre." His own "Legends of the Dumbells" premiered at the Charlottetown Festival in 1977. Alan and Blanche created "Swing!", a tribute to the big band era, which Alan directed and choreographed in Charlottetown in 1986. From 1987 until his death, Alan would serve as Resident Director of the Rainbow Stage Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Alan also worked with musical theatre students at the Banff Centre for a number of years.
In 1982 Alan was awarded the Order of Canada for his contribution to dance. Alan also received an honourary degree from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1987.
Alan and Blanche had four sons. Alan Lund died 1 July 1992 in Toronto. His wife Blanche was a resident of Nova Scotia in 2013.
Meet the Navy programme Meet the Navy programme
Blanche and Alan Lund
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