EnglishFrench
Program Information
Banff Centre February 2022, “In My Body” photo by Rita Taylor
Overview
The biennial Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award, at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, is open to any emerging Canadian dance choreographer or company demonstrating exceptional talent. We are seeking new voices, ideas, and approaches to professional dance that can be supported through the award.
Established in 1978 by the Clifford E. Lee Foundation to encourage the development of Canadian choreographers. Nominees for the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award will submit a proposal for a work that explores a contemporary approach to dance through any style. The work should be full-length, and travel to Banff with a company of no more than 15, including designers and production team members.
The successful artist or company will be awarded with a cash prize, and offered one creation residency and one production residency at Banff Centre, subject to schedules aligning for the work in question. Beyond this support, the nominee must demonstrate an ability to realize the new work through future presentations. Banff Centre will champion the recipient(s) in their vision and realization of the work.
The most recent recipient was Gatineau, QC-based Crazy Smooth (2020). Other past recipients include: Andrea Peña, Allen Kaeja, Andrew Giday, Bengt Jörgen, Benjamin Hatcher, Christopher House, Constantine Patsalis, Crystal Pite, D.A. Hoskins, David Earle, Donald Sales, Edward Hillyer, Gabrielle Lamb, Gaetan Gingras, Gioconda Barbuto, Heather Myer, Howard Richard, Jennifer Mascall, Joe Laughlin, Judith Marcuse, Lola MacLaughlin, Mark Godden, Martine Epoque, Mauryne Allan, Michael Downing, Peter Quanz, Randy Glynn, Renald Rabu, Robert Glumbek, Robert Stephen, Sabrina Matthews, Shaun Hounsell, Simone Orlando, Stephanie Ballard, and Wen Wei Wang.
What does the program offer?
The Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award is a combination of a $14,000 CAD cash prize for the commission of a new work and the support of two residencies at Banff Centre. The cash award will be paid in two equal installments, to support any aspect of the work that the choreographer sees fit over this two-year period (e.g., fees, set construction, travel for company members to-from Banff, etc.).
The residencies take place over a two-year period with an initial residency in studio of up to two weeks; December 5 to 16, 2022 during Banff Centre’s Dance Artist in Residence program. The second, a production-focused residency in a suitable venue on the Banff campus, will be offered the following year, subject to the project’s timeline aligning with activities at Banff Centre.
If the applicant requires but does not have access to a company of dancers for this first residency, Banff Centre can facilitate an arrangement for a suitable, professional company of dancers to support the project on site.
The first residency will offer meals and accommodation for all company members, and a studio with limited technical support.
The second residency will take place in a venue suitable to the project, with three technicians (lighting, sound, and staging) for 7.5 hours a day for two five-day weeks. Additional crew, scenic construction, or technical support may be negotiable. Banff Centre will not act as producer of the work. A public performance, or sharing of work in process, is expected at the end of the second residency.
Partial transportation support to and from residency may be available depending on company size and location. Further opportunities to attend other Banff Centre programs in Dance may be available to the award recipient(s) as part of their professional development.
Who should apply?
Applications will be accepted from emerging Canadian (citizen or permanent resident) choreographers that are currently working with, or have access to, a company of dancers that can be utilized in the creation and production of the work. If the applicant does not have access to a company of dancers, Banff Centre can facilitate an arrangement for a suitable, professional company of dancers to support the project on site. Nominations may be made by colleagues of the nominee with their approval.
Any style of dance, approached with a contemporary point of view, is welcomed.
For full details on vaccination requirements, masking, safety protocols, and COVID related policies please visit: www.banffcentre.ca/covid-19-measures
Choreographer Crazy Smooth reflects on his experience at Banff Centre while the working dance production “In My Body”. Smooth is the 2020 recipient of Banff Centre’s Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award. This award was established in 1978 to encourage the development of Canadian choreographers and is adjudicated every two years by a panel of jurors.
Faculty
Alejandro Ronceria
Alejandro Ronceria is an internationally acclaimed director/choreographer/dance dramaturge based in Toronto. He directs and produces dance/theatrical productions internationally and mentors Indigenous choreographers and productions.
Ronceria was the co-founder/Program Director of the first Aboriginal Dance Program in North America at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. During his five-year tenure, the groundbreaking program brought together Indigenous and Inuit performers from across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Greenland, and New Zealand. His dance films have screened at TIFF and Sundance. Classically trained in ballet in Colombia, he holds an MFA in Dance Dramaturgy from York University. Ronceria was inducted into the Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame.
Faculty for DAiR
Dr. Nanako Nakajima
Dr. Nanako Nakajima（中島那奈子） is a dance scholar and a pioneer of dance dramaturg, and a certified traditional Japanese dance master, Kannae Fujima. Her dramaturgy includes luciana achugar’s “Exhausting Love at Danspace Project” (2006-07 New York Dance and Performance Awards, ‘The Bessies’), Osamu Jareo's “Theater Thikwa plus Junkan Project” in Kyoto, Ong Ken Sen’s “OPEN WITH THE PUNK SPIRIT! Dance Archive Box” in Singapore, and Mengfan Wang’s “WHEN MY CUE COMES, CALL ME, AND I WILL ANSWER” in Wuzhen.
In her recent projects, she integrates her research on aging into dance, such as “Yvonne Rainer Performative Exhibition” at Kyoto Art Theater Shunju-za, 2017, "Dance Archive Box Berlin" at Akademie der Künste, 2020, and the lecture-performance “Noh to Trio A” at Nagoya Noh Theater, 2021. She received the Special Commendation of the Elliott Hayes Award in 2017 for Outstanding Achievement in Dramaturgy from the Literary Manager and Dramaturgs of the Americas. She was a Valeska Gert Visiting Professor 2019/20, at Freie Universität Berlin.
She has worked with the international festivals and theatres including Tanz im August, YPAM (Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting), tanzhaus NRW, and Tanzquartier Wien. She is a Jury of 2022 Keir Choreographic Award, Australia. Her publications include The Aging Body in Dance: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (co-edited with G. Brandstetter Routledge, 2017), Performance Research, Vol. 24, No. 2: ‘On Ageing (& Beyond)' (2019) co-edited with R. Gough, and Oi to Odori (co-edited with K. Toyama, Keisoshobo, 2019).
Faculty for DAiR
Dr. Pil Hansen
Pil Hansen (PhD) is a dance and devising dramaturg, a founding member of Vertical City Performance, Professor of performing arts at the University of Calgary, Editor of the Routledge book series on Expanded Dramaturgy, and President of Performance Studies international. Her artistic and scholarly work examines memory, perception, and relational connection in creative processes. She draws on this insight to develop strength-based creation strategies for aging and (dis)abled learners.
Over the past two decades, she has dramaturged more than 30 works. Books she authored/edited include Performance Generating Systems in Dance: Dramaturgy, Psychology, and Performativity (2022), Performing the Remembered Present: The Cognition of Memory in Dance, Theatre, and Music (2017), and Dance Dramaturgy: Modes of Agency, Awareness, and Engagement (2015). Hansen’s current artistic associations are KAEJA, Battery Opera, and Banff Centre for the Arts (dance). Past collaborators include Toronto Dance Theatre, Public Recordings, and Theatre Replacement.
Faculty for DAiR
What's Included
Single Room
Read more
Close
Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program(s)
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Full Flex Meal Plan
Read more
Close
Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Full Flex meal plan is equivalent to $58 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our Buffet service.
Cash Award
Read more
Close
The award recipient will receive a $14,000 CAD cash award paid in two instalments over a two-year period. There will also be a limited budget allotted to realize production designs.
Travel Grant
Read more
Close
A grant towards your travel costs to and from Banff (economy class airfare).
Gym Membership
Read more
Close
Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym, and fitness suite as well as discounted rates for classes at the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives
Read more
Close
Limited access to the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives.
Although the doors remain temporarily closed, you can still access a wide range of books, periodicals, recordings and scores through our digital databases available on the digital resources page, and physical items through our curbside pick-up service.
Box Office Discounts
Read more
Close
Enjoy special artist rates for ticketed performances or complimentary access to events.
Participant Resources
Read more
Close
Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided by our Participant Resources team.
Studio Space
Read more
Close
Create in one of our specialized studios.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Due to the generous support of Clifford E Lee Foundation there is NO APPLICATION FEE to pay for this program.
Please skip Step 2.
Portfolio
Up to 4 videos, no more than 20 minutes in length per video.
Project Proposal
Please introduce the jury, to the proposed project that would be advanced with support from this award, its path toward production, and its team.
Resume
A one-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience.
Technical Questionnaire
Answers to program-related questions.
Letter of Nomination
A reference that can describe why the nominee or applicant would be an ideal recipient of the 2022 Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award, based on the focus and criteria highlighted in the call for nominees.
Are you hoping to be considered for the Dance Artists in Residence program if you are not the recipient of the Clifford E Lee award? Please apply for the DaiR program separately here!
Adjudication
Participants are selected by impartial adjudicators on the basis of their submitted material. In addition to artistic merit and project viability, consideration will be given to the likelihood that the artist's work will benefit from the program.
Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as adjudication is complete.
Disclaimer
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Contact Admissions
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
Toll Free Number (Canada + USA)
1.800.565.9989
Phone
403.762.6180