Edward Hillyer: De Profundis(1991)
The Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award — 1991

Edward Hillyer was born in Oakland, California and received his dance training at the San Francisco Ballet School and the National Academy of Arts in Illinois. His teachers included Lupe Serrano, Gemze de Lappé, Belinda Wright, Robert Mead, Alexandra Baldina, Ludmilla Shollar, Anatole Vilzak and Harold Christensen. Mr. Hillyer joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in 1976 and by 1982 had risen to become a principal dancer with the company. He was also an invited soloist with both the Hamburg Ballet and the Lar Lubovich Company during several seasons.

Mr. Hillyer has choreographed works for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ballet Jörgen, The Ottawa Ballet, and Arts Umbrella in Vancouver as well as projects for film, television, and opera. His pieces have included: Pour Brad, Epreuve de Force, Reach of Children, Slow Down Old World, Le Corps Constallé, Priori, Masquerade Suite, Voix de Disparition and Descente de Croix for which he received the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award.

In addition to choreographer, Edward Hillyer is a highly respected teacher and ballet master working with dance companies around the world. He has taught for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, The National Ballet, the Ottawa Ballet, Le Ballet Prljocaj de France, the Montenaro Dance Company, the Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet British Columbia, and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal as well as the école Sup&2acute;rieure de Danse du Québec. In addition, he has brought a classical discipline and foundation to dancers from countless contemporary companies through a series of open classes and workshops, including dancers from La La La Human Steps, O Vertigo, Montréal Danse, MC2 Extase (Compagnie Marie Chouinard), Le Carré des Lombes, Fortier Danse Création, Foundation Jean-Pierre Perreault and Louise Bédard Danse.

First as a dancer, then as choreographer and teacher, Mr. Hillyer has brought to each of his disciplines a wealth of knowledge and dedication to his art. He inspires through his irrepressible enthusiasm for his work, and is highly esteemed for the gracious, open and amicable manner in which he communicates his ideas.

Return to the complete Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award Winners List

De Profundis (1991)

World Premiere
Eric Harvie Theatre
July 10, 11, 12 & 13, 1991
Created in memory of Vladimir Jelinek

Choreography: Edward Hillyer
Assisted by: Austra Gulens
Music: Dvorak, Symphony No. 7 (1st and 3rd Movements)
Set Design: Edward Hillyer
Lighting Design: Louise Guinand

The 1991 Festival Dance Company in De Profundis.
Photo: Monte Greenshields