That might have been enough to fell any mere mortal. Not Stiefel. He learned to work through pain and still dance at the top of his game.

"That sometimes means painkillers," he says. "Well, dance isn't for sissies. I know all about post-performance agony."

Stiefel, 35, is coming to Toronto to perform with The National Ballet of Canada. He'll be dancing Balanchine's Symphony In C, a role that demands speed, elevation and precision.

Growing up in Madison, Wis., Stiefel fell in love with dance by watching Gene Kelly films.

"I sat on the sofa with my mom. We watched as Gene chased a newspaper in the film Summer Stock. I thought, 'Wow this is real dancing.'

"As a child I was active all the time. My mother never left me alone for a minute. I'd go to my sister's dance class and learn all her moves. One day I put on a pair of shorts and socks and got out and moved to the music. The dance teacher flipped out. She couldn't believe it. At last a boy who wanted to dance ballet."

Stiefel had no conception others might see this as odd.

"I never thought it an issue. The whole male ballet thing meant nothing to me. I guess I was pretty clueless. I just knew I liked to move to music."

Stiefel's dad was a federal prison warden and when he was transferred to New York City, Ethan got his big chance.

He won a scholarship to a Manhattan school in 1988.

"At 16, I was at New York City Ballet and loving it. Dance became my life. To think it was a result of serendipity. That amused me."

After a few years dancing with New York City Ballet, Stiefel crossed the plaza at Lincoln Centre and joined American Ballet Theatre.

"I loved New York City Ballet, but I wanted to do the big classical roles."

Stiefel believes life is always about change.

"If you don't understand that, you're in big trouble. I tend to throw myself into the deep end of the pool and try to keep swimming. Maybe that's why I've had my knees done so many times."

These days Stiefel is sitting in the hot seat at North Carolina's School of the Arts. He's the new dean of Dance. He loves it to pieces.

"I didn't feel it was the right time to take this on. I still feel I have years of dance left. But you know, sometimes you have to take a chance, to grab what comes along."

Stiefel is responsible for students and faculty. He plans to give the job his all.

"I'll still be dancing, though. I'll do the big New York seasons. I didn't take this on because I felt I had to. That makes a big difference."

It's good news Stiefel will dance one of his great Balanchine roles in Toronto. It's an opportunity to see one of ballet's superstars without trekking to New York.

"When I dance I feel I'm on a mission. That doesn't mean I put blinders on. I know there's a whole world outside of ballet.

"I think I have the ability to step back and take a hard look at things. If I wasn't able to do that I don't think I'd be healthy. In some ways my injury helped me.

"It allowed me time to meditate and think."

Gary Smith has written on theatre and dance for The Hamilton Spectator for more than 25 years.