DanceNL wishes to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Martin Vallée as the winner of the BMO Bank of Montreal 2018 Artist of the Year!
Martin Vallée, an innovative choreographer, inspiring dance teacher, creative leader, and performer has been the artistic director of Kittiwake Dance Theatre for over a decade. In 2018, Vallee premiered his one-act ballet, Alice – the first feature length ballet choreographed here in over five years.
He collaborated with Duo Concertante, the NSO, and Calos Youth Orchestra to oversee a highly successful provincial tour of the beloved Nutcracker ballet, leading his artistic team through a total of eight performances – four in St. John’s (two live with the NSO), two in Gander and two in Stephenville – with more than 300 performers, workshops, and rehearsals. Vallee also worked closely with a ballet accompanist from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to mentor four emerging pianists in dance accompaniment strengthening the bonds between music and dance in this province.
For years, he’s been fostering a company of skilled and disciplined dancers who understand what it means to work as an ensemble. He generously shares his talent with many, and contributes to his teaching profession by being an active member of the Dance Teachers Association of Newfoundland.
We would also like to congratulate Neighbourhood Dance Works on receiving the ArtsNL Patron of the Arts Award!
From the ArtsNL media release:
The Newfoundland and Labrador arts scene is recognized country-wide for its no holds barred, multidisciplinary approach. Large credit for that can be given to this year’s patron of the arts, Neighborhood Dance Works.
It’s a highly experimental and playful organization that encourages cross pollination between dancers, actors, filmmakers, lighting and sound designers, visual artists, musicians, architects and costume makers.
In its 38-year history, NDW has featured 120 dance presentations. Bringing Canada’s most celebrated dance artists, such as Toronto Dance Theatre, Peggy Baker, Louise Lecavalier, and Margie Gillis. Neighborhood Dance Works has also taken part in and have helped facilitate 25 Atlantic Canadian dance tours
In 2018, Neighborhood Dance Works partnered with Eastern Edge in 2018 to host and curate the art organization’s inaugural performance series, bringing together dance, visual, theatre, film, and literature – diversifying the audiences at Eastern Edge and creating new opportunities for collaboration.
Recognized nationally for their boundary pushing vision, NDW plays a singular and vital role as a voice for dance artists, spawning the creation of the Festival of New Dance which has nurtured hundreds of local and national artists.
For their generosity and commitment to cross discipline collaboration we congratulate NDW for their Patron of the Arts Award.
Bravo to all involved, including the other nominees and winners in other categories!