Dance Victoria Announces Winners of the Chrystal Dance Prize – Projects
In addition to its Dance at Royal series of presentations at the Royal Theatre, Dance Victoria also supports the development of independent and emerging dance artists through its annual Chrystal Dance Prize.
Since 2010, Dance Victoria has awarded its Chrystal Dance Prize – Projects to dance artists, collectives or companies from Western Canada working with international artists outside of Canada. This year, the Awards Committee of Dance Victoria selected two artists from a Fall 2019 competition, committing a total of $30,000.
Victoria-based David Ferguson has been awarded $20,000 for his project, LUCKY MAYBE, with South Korean artist Hoyeon Kim. Ferguson was the winner of the 2016 Chrystal Dance Prize for his project We Are Diamonds. The impetus for LUCKY MAYBE evolved from a small physical movement – a blend of words, gestures and sounds – to communicate “lucky maybe” during rehearsals for We Are Diamonds. The physical movement became a symbol of international communication between the South Korean dancers, Ferguson and the technicians, was often repeated and became the inspiration for a new work. For LUCKY MAYBE, Ferguson will work with photographer Daniel Carruthers to create short dance episodes, a full 24-minute film, and longer gallery installation versions for release in Canada, South Korea and internationally through film festivals. The Chrystal Dance Prize – Projects will support production and filming in Victoria and Seoul, two two-week residencies and in-studio performances in both locations.
Vancouver based Julianne Chapple has been awarded $10,000 for the Pathways Project, working with Palestinian artist Sahar Damoni. The Pathways Project explores individuality, freedom and intention from a female perspective, but from two vastly different cultures: Chapple as a multidisciplinary artist living in liberal, urban Vancouver and Damoni as an Arab feminist living in repressive Shafamer in the Galilee. Together they will look at the liminal spaces in which they exist, and the struggle to move forward while existing inside others’ expectations. The Chrystal Dance Prize – Projects will support research and creation in New York City with residencies in Germany and Vancouver…
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