Dancer Victoria will be doling out over $60,000 to support international dance projects, through its Chrystal Dance Prize (CDP).
This year the award will support projects with ties to Edmonton, Romania and Japan. The CDP is intended to support exceptional dance research or creation produced between a Western Canadian dance individual or institution and an international artist.
“Our jury panel this year was struck by the timeliness of the collaborations and themes reflected in each of these applications,” said Dance Victoria’s executive director Gillian Jones.
“The recipients span different disciplines, perspectives, and project scopes, but all are innovating and taking risks in response to issues and artistic opportunities of this moment. Dance Victoria is proud to contribute to this work and the development of dance in Western Canada.”
This year's recipients include Ballet Edmonton, who are led by artistic director Kirsten Wicklund. Ballet Edmonton is set to receive $30,000 to support their collaboration with Belgian multidisciplinary dance and theatre maker Marie Gyselbrecht and French sound designer Raphaelle Latini. The funding will allow the trio of collaborators to produce a new work of contemporary dance theatre. “Edmonton aims to create an immersive experience that expands and redefines ballet as a vehicle for abstract storytelling,” said Dance Victoria marketing manager Anne-Sophie Cournoyer in a press release.
The project is set to be completed with a 40-minute contemporary ballet premiere in February 2026.
Vanessa Goodman, artistic director of the Vancouver-based Action at a Distance, will receive $18,000 to support Future Alternates, a collaboration between Romanian choreographer Simona Deaconescu of Tangaj collective. The pair's new work is intended to “decentralize the human experience, exploring how the body might merge with non-human entities like machines, ecosystems and even digital worlds,” said Cournoyer.
The final award recipient is Eric Cheung, who will receive $12,500 to support the creation of IN/YANG, a site-responsive dance duet collaboration with choreographer Kinui Oiwa, and Japanese sound composer Nouses Kou. IN/YANG explores the history and present nature of cultural exchange between Japan and China
“The work delves into the importance of balance in today’s society and lives. IN/YANG seeks to discover approaches that challenge preconceived notions of balance,” said Cournoyer.
The CDP originated at the bequest from Dr. Betty “Chrystal” Kleiman, a Dance Victoria patron, and is distributed by a committee of dance professionals. This year the award will deliver $60,500 in prize money, supporting new dance internationally and often bringing these works to Victoria.
