Over $7,000 for Emerging Dance Artists Through Two Dance Awards
In May 2023, Dance Victoria announced two winners of the 2022/23 Chrystal Dance Prize – Training and the Arabella and Robert Award for Dance for emerging dance artists. A panel of dance professionals selected the winners through an application process.
Margarette Bernal from Richmond, B.C. receives $4,641, with $3,000 awarded from the Chrystal Dance Prize – Training and $1,641 from the Arabella and Robert Award for Dance. Margarette trained at Defy Gravity Dance Company Inc. and completed her Cecchetti Exams to the Advanced 1 level, winning the Majors Category of the BC Cecchetti Awards. She is the recipient of the senior Canadian Cecchetti Society Scholarship. Margarette will use these funds to support her studies at The Ailey School (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre) in 2023/24.
Bryn Bridgen from Vancouver was awarded $3,000 through the Chrystal Dance Prize – Training. Bryn is an Indigenous dance artist who has danced with Dance//Novella. She is a graduate of Lamondance in Vancouver, a student of the Modus Operandi Link program, and in 2022, she completed GibneyPRO’s Pilot Program in New York City. Bryn will use the funds to support her Professional Certificate studies at GibneyPRO in 2023/24.
The Chrystal Dance Prize is awarded twice annually. The Training category supports emerging western Canadian dance artists continuing their full-time training at an international institution. The Projects category supports independent artists, companies or collectives working on exceptional projects with an international artist (interpreter or choreographer). The Chrystal Dance Prize is generated from a substantial bequest made by Dance Victoria patron, Dr. Betty “Chrystal” Kleiman, to the Victoria Foundation. Between the two awards, approximately $55,000 is awarded to dance artists.
The Arabella and Robert Award for Dance is an award open to dancers from across Canada continuing their training at an international dance conservatory or institution and is generated from a fund established by Dance Victoria patrons Arabella Martin and Robert Britten, held at the Victoria Foundation. Applicants must be a resident of Canada wishing to train full-time at a recognized international dance conservatory or institution (inside or outside of Canada)
Read the media release for additional details about the 2022/23 Chrystal Dance Prize – Training winners.
Guidelines and Application Procedure
The Chrystal Dance Prize – Training supports young dancers completing their training at an international dance institution. Thank you to all applicants. The deadline was April 14 and submissions are no longer being accepted for 2022/23.
History of the Chrystal Dance Prize
The prize is funded through an annual disbursement from the Chrystal Dance Fund held at the Victoria Foundation. Learn about Dr. Betty “Chrystal” Kleiman and past winners.