Ballet Dancer. He was a Candidian ballet dancer, choreographer, and artistic director. Arnold Theodore Spohr was born to German immigrant parents in the small village of Rhein SK in 1923. He was the fifth of seven children and grew up speaking both German and English. His father was a Lutheran Pastor. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1930. At age 20, he obtained a teaching certificate in music and physical education. He grew into a 6'3" tall man who loved sports and playing the piano. In 1942, he escorted one of his three sisters to see a ballet performance. He was thrilled by the experience but did not begin training for another two years. He trained in London England, New York City, and Hollywood. He danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet from 1945 to 1954. In 1951, he began choreographing as well. He became the Company's Artistic Director in 1958. He revived the foundering company by inviting the ballet world's best teachers to work with his company. He kept it small, with rarely more than 25 dancers, and turned the RWB into an agile, affordable touring company. The company crisscrossed North America. By 1965, they had made the first of several visits to London. Trips to Paris, Leningrad, Moscow, South America, and Australia followed. By the mid-1970s, the RWB was one of the world's most traveled dance troupes and Canada's finest cultural ambassador. Although he considered himself a fine teacher, he was most effective as an artistic coach, director, and ballet master. He drove himself to the point of physical collapse. He was finally convinced to retire at age 65 and was given the title of Artistic Director Emeritus. He later accepted an invitation to work with Ballet Jörgen in Toronto. There, his theatrical instincts and eye for detail put a professional polish on the small touring company. In 1991, he served briefly as Interim Artistic Director for Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers. He also continued to coach dancers privately and mentored anyone who sought his help. In 1970 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2004 was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. He received the Molson Prize in 1970, the Dance Magazine Award in 1982, the Diplôme d'honneur of the Canadian Conference of the Arts in 1983, and the Royal Bank Award for Canadian Achievement in 1987. In 1998, Arnold received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, which is Canada's highest honor in the performing arts. In 2000, he was awarded the Order of Manitoba. He became one of the most respected and best-loved figures in Canadian Ballet. He led the RWB for 30 years and helped it attain its current position as one of Canada's most internationally acclaimed performing arts ensembles. Dance insiders hailed him as one of the greatest ballet directors in the world. The City of Winnipeg erected a statue of him in Assiniboine Park.