Karen Kain

It's a different era. Our job now is to show leadership and vision and to help the next generation of artists.

Canadians are very proud of me, of my career.

Treasure the things about you that make you different and unique.

Dancers, like all performing artists, like nothing better than to be challenged.

When I grow up I am going to be a ballerina. I will be in Giselle. It will be so much fun being a ballerina.

Surround yourself with people who provide you with support and love and remember to give back as much as you can in return.

There's nothing like the force and challenge of a new ballet to galvanize everyone involved in bringing it to life.

In my life, there have always been people who guided my path, towards the school, towards this company. I didn't know about any of it. I didn't have a plan. It's good fortune and generosity from other people that have given me all I have today.

To be able to make decisions and see them come to fruition and feel the excitement around them, what it generates within the company, how the artists get motivated - that's the most rewarding part; feeling I can be a catalyst for an artistic experience for our artists and for the public.

I know there are going to be big challenges financially, but I'm excited artistically. I think that if the experience is better artistically, then we have more hope in the future.

I really felt it was time for a new vision.

I know how demanding the process of creation is.