CBC Digital Archives

Don Cherry, ballet dancer

He was a better hockey coach than a player, and a better commentator than a coach. But as Don Cherry's career gained momentum, so did the controversy. Brash, outspoken and flamboyant, Cherry has the biggest mouth in hockey. It's a quality that Canadians either love, love to hate, or just hate. From his time on ice to his time on air, Don Cherry's unrestrained commentary has often landed him in hot water.

"Come on, what do you think this is, a ballet practice?" scoffs coach Don Cherry to his charges in a sports lottery commercial. The ad has unexpected consequences: taking umbrage at the snub to his profession, ballet instructor Bruce Monk challenges Cherry to see if he can keep up during a real ballet practice. Cherry agrees. Though he's let off the hook after a few stretches and jumps, the experience teaches Cherry a new respect for the art. 
. The Sports Select lottery commercial ends with Cherry deriding a hockey player, telling him, "Don't forget to give those skates back to your sister, kid." That line caused an uproar from another sector. Advocates of women's hockey felt the comment was sexist and demeaning to their sport. Cherry responded to criticism on CBC Radio's As It Happens, saying that he was a fan of women's hockey, but didn't think there was anything wrong with the joke.

. Bruce Monk, who in this clip gives Cherry his first ballet lesson, is a former dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. He has instructed the school's professional division for over a decade. Monk was ballet master for the 2002 film production of Guy Maddin's Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary. Monk is also renowned for his dance photography. He specializes in a traditional platinum printing process that creates ghostly prints that do not oxidize.

. Founded in 1939, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is North America's longest continuously operating ballet company. Queen Elizabeth conferred the royal title in 1953. The company toured North America the following year and has since performed in countries around the world.

. Don Cherry is less known for his interests outside of hockey. These include his love of his bull terrier Blue (they frequently appeared together in interviews), collecting Royal Doulton china, being a devout Anglican and reading history.
Medium: Television
Program: CBC Television News
Broadcast Date: Oct. 25, 1990
Guest(s): Don Cherry, Bruce Monk
Reporter: Scott Oake
Duration: 2:17
Hockey Night in Canada Theme: Dolores Claman

Last updated: November 1, 2012

Page consulted on March 28, 2013

All Clips from this Topic

Related Content

Barbara Frum: Pioneering Broadcaster

The sudden death of Barbara Frum on March 26, 1992 shocked Canadians. The loss of one of the c...

1985: Electric eels light up Christmas tree

The electric eels at the Vancouver Aquarium light up a tree for the holiday season.

1948: Housewives save with margarine

The Supreme Court of Canada lifts a ban on the sale of margarine, a butter substitute that's h...

The Avro Arrow: Canada's Broken Dream

It's the closest thing Canadian industry has to a love story and a murder mystery. The Avro Ar...

1983: Trudeau on Peking peace mission

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau takes tea with the Chinese premier as part of his worldw...