At Dance Victoria our collective imagination is crowded with visions of Brazil, Italy and New York City. Why, you ask? Because in 2014/15, through its annual Chrystal Dance Prize, our organization will support two international dance projects and help send one BC teenager on his path to a professional career.
Alexander Andison, has studied dance at Vancouver’s esteemed Arts Umbrella and spent some time in summer programs at San Francisco Ballet and in New York. He was recently accepted into the BFA program at the celebrated Juilliard School in New York. Dance Victoria is supporting young Mr. Andison with a $1,000 scholarship and of course our best wishes for success. We look forward to hearing about his adventures in the Big Apple.
Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg is no stranger to Victoria. Two of her past solo shows bANGER andNick and Juanita – Livin’ in my Dreams have been presented in Victoria by Intrepid Theatre and Dance Victoria respectively. Friedenberg has gained a national reputation as a cutting-edge dance/theatre artist, fusing character driven monologues with virtuosic movement. Dance Victoria is supporting her next project, Sprouts with Italian collaborator Silvia Gribaudi. The Chrystal Prize ($10,000) will help support the next phase of development and includes a two-week residency with Gribaudi and Friedenberg at Dance Victoria Studios in August 2015.
Over the years, Dance Victoria has developed a solid relationship with Calgary’s Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and its new Artistic Director, Kimberley Cooper. Cooper has been working on a large-scale project with a group of dancers and musicians in Brazil. In fact, in just a few days, Cooper will be leaving for her second research period in Brazil. Dance Victoria is providing $10,000 towards this phase of the creation. Current plans provide for the new work featuring Brazilian dancers, musicians and the Decidedly Jazz Danceworks company to premiere in Canada in the fall of 2016.
We’re very excited to be in a position to support these dance artists. The Chrystal Dance Prize was developed out of a large bequest by Dr. Betty “Chrystal“ Kleiman in 2009. The fund is held at the Victoria Foundation in perpetuity. Dance Victoria is allocated an annual disbursement to fund the Chrystal Dance Prize. In 2015, the organization will have $27,000 to award to western Canadian dance artists working with an international collaborator or attending an accredited training institution outside Canada. For more information about the Chrystal Dance Prize.