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Dancer/Choreographer Wen Wei Wang
Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award recipient
BANFF, AB -- Vancouver dancer/choreographer Wen Wei Wang is the recipient of the prestigious Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award for the year 2000.
Wang, now a Canadian citizen, was born and raised in mainland China where he was an accomplished dancer and choreographer in the traditional dances of China. His aesthetic bridges the conventions of classical Chinese dance training with the many diverse influences and experiences he has had since coming to Canada. He is currently dancing with Ballet British Columbia. (See attached Backgrounder for Wen Wei Wang’s biography.)
In announcing the Lee Award, Festival Dance program head Brian Macdonald OC, said "I am particularly delighted because Wen Wei’s birth and background in China combined with his citizenship and dance experience in Canada have revealed a quite remarkable choreographic talent -- exactly what the Lee Award was created to encourage here at Banff."
The Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award, administered by the Banff Centre for the Arts, is given annually to an emerging Canadian choreographer. As this year’s recipient Wang receives a commission to set a new choreography on the professional dancers who comprise the Festival Dance core company. The commission includes a six-week residency at The Banff Centre to create and rehearse the new work; full production support; four performances during the Banff Arts Festival (Festival Dance performance dates Aug. 2 to 5, 2000); and a commission fee of $5000.
Wen Wei says the Award is very meaningful for him. "I first heard of the Festival Dance program in 1991 and was a participant in 1992. At that time I remember thinking what a wonderful place Banff was for young dancers, and what a wonderful opportunity the Award was for Lola MacLaughlin (the 1992 Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award recipient). Ever since, it has been a dream of mine to come back as the Lee choreographer. I am so happy to be chosen. I’m ready and want to create a piece that is really good for the dancers."
The Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award was
originally established in 1978. In 1999, the Clifford E. Lee Foundation celebrated over 20
years of support for the Award with an additional endowment. This generosity guarantees
that the Award will be granted in perpetuity. For years to come, Canadian choreographers,
dancers and audiences will benefit from this extraordinary opportunity to create new work.
Media Contact:
Greg Parry (403) 762-6482
Assistant Director and Marketing
Theatre Arts, The Banff Centre
greg_parry@banffcentre.ab.ca
Backgrounder
2000 CLIFFORD E. LEE CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD
WEN WEI WANG is a Canadian citizen, born and raised in mainland China where he was an accomplished dancer and choreographer in the traditional dances of China. His aesthetic bridges the conventions of classical Chinese dance training with the many diverse influences and experiences he has had since coming to Canada. He started his choreographic work in 1988 and was awarded first prize at China’s Langzhou Choreographic Competition. Since then he has created more than 20 works (three of which have been awarded prizes in North America) for Chinese dance companies. His first work for a contemporary group was for the Judith Marcuse Dance Company’s choreographic workshop. He has since created Out of Thunder (1998), Caprice (1998) and Iberia (1999) for Vancouver’s Arts Umbrella; and Dimensions (1999) for the Mentor Program of Ballet British Columbia. Wang has also choreographed a number of solos for himself and other dancers; these have been performed in various venues and special concerts in Vancouver. A gifted performer, he began dancing at the age of 13 and turned professional at 18. His dance career first brought him to Canada in 1986 to dance with the Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company. He returned in 1991 and was offered and accepted employment with the Judith Marcuse Company. For the past six years he has been dancing with Ballet British Columbia.
The 2000 Clifford E. Lee Award Jurors: BRIAN MACDONALD OC, program director of Banff Festival Dance; JOHN ALLEYNE, artistic director of Ballet British Columbia; ALLEN KAEJA, artistic director Kaeja d’Dance and the 1999 Award recipient; ARNOLD SPOHR, artistic advisor and director emeritus of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and associate director of Ballet Jörgen; and VINCENT WARREN, instructor at L’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec.
The Clifford E. Lee Foundation is an Alberta-based private foundation that for 28 years has been supporting social and artistic development in Alberta.
The Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award:
Past Recipients
Year Recipient
Title
2000
Wen Wei Wang
TBA
1999
Allen Kaeja
Excavating ascent
1998
Gaètan Gingras
Shaping Worlds as Fire Burns...
1997
Shawn Hounsell
Creaturehood
1996
Gioconda Barbuto
CHIAROSCURO
1996
Joe Laughlin
L’Etiquette
1995
Crystal Pite
Quest
1994
Michael Downing
Channel
1993
Bengt Jörgen
Bonds of Affection
1992
Lola MacLaughlin
Waterwheel
1991
Edward Hillyer
De Profundis
1990
Howard Richard
. . . And There You Are, All Alone Together
1989
Mark Godden
Sequoia
1988
Randy Glynn
Capricciosa
1987
David Earle
Cloud Garden
1986
Christopher House
Go Yet Turning Stay
1985
Constantin Patsalas
Notturni
1984
NOT AWARDED
1983
Martine Epoque
Constellation I
1982
Stephanie Ballard
Light Falling
1981
Jennifer Mascall
Acoustic Noose
1980
Renald Rabu
Sparks
1979
Judith Marcuse
Sadhana Dhoti
1978
Mauryne Allan
Spring
For a more complete history of the award visit: www.banffcentre.ab.ca/theatre/dance/
Theatre Arts, under the artistic direction of John Murrell, is dedicated to the creation, interpretation, and performance of contemporary repertoire in dance, drama, opera, music theatre and song.