OTTAWA (Canada) The National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce that Ballet BC has been awarded the 2019 National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring. 

Ballet BC is being recognized for its long history of touring, both within Canada and around the world.  The award will be presented at the opening dinner of the Canadian Arts Presenting Association’s (CAPACOA) annual conference this evening at the National Arts Centre.

"Ballet BC is honoured to receive this award from the NAC” said Emily Molnar, Ballet BC’s Artistic Director. “With the help of so many, the company has been increasing its touring over the past ten years, offering us the privilege of serving as ambassadors throughout Canada and across the globe. My own motivation stems from the desire to engage as many people as possible in a conversation through dance. Including our audiences in the process of our work is incredibly rewarding, I am always inspired by the thoughtful and responsive audience members we encounter. Thank you to the many national and international presenters who believed in our vision and trusted us to bring dance to their communities.” 

Founded in 1986, Ballet BC is an internationally acclaimed collaborative and creation-based contemporary ballet company that is a leader and resource in the creation, production and education of contemporary dance in Canada.  Under the artistic direction of Emily Molnar, Ballet BC actively fosters collaborations that support artists, choreographers, and audiences alike, furthering the boundaries of contemporary dance.

Ballet BC has toured Canada extensively to cities both large and small over the past two decades, and in recent years, the company has brought contemporary dance to audiences from Nanaimo to Halifax.  Its international presence has also grown significantly, with performances in more than 20 cities in the U.S., UK, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, Israel, and Serbia.  The company earned an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production nomination this year for its sold-out performances at Sadler’s Wells in London.

Established in 1992 in collaboration with the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA), the National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring honours exceptional achievement in fostering the touring of live performing arts in Canada.  The recipient is chosen from nominations solicited from within the industry and is selected by a committee composed of presenters, agents, administrators, the National Arts Centre and CAPACOA.  The recipient may be an individual, performing company, corporation or other organization. For more information about CAPACOA, please visit http://www.capacoa.ca.

The Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring consists of $2,500 and a specially designed porcelain sculpture by Paula Murray, one of Canada’s finest ceramic artists.    

Previous recipients include Derek Andrews (2018), the East Coast Music Association (2017), Paul Tanguay (2016), Norman Armour (2015), Tafelmusik (2014), Alain Paré (2013), Peter Feldman (2012), Ballet Jörgen Canada (2011), La danse sur les routes du Québec (2010), Uriel Luft (2009), the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (2008), Judy Harquail (2007), Ottie Lockey (2006), Colin McIntyre (2005), CBC Radio/la radio de Radio-Canada (2004), Debut Atlantic (2003), Richard Stoker (2002), Nicholas Goldschmidt (2001), Bruce Owen (2000), the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (1999), David Haber (1998), Dr. Elmer Iseler (1997), Jean-Paul Gagnon (1996), Hugh Davidson (1995), Mark Porteous (1994), George Zukerman (1993), and CAPACOA (1992).

CAPACOA is a federally incorporated, non-profit pan-Canadian organization serving the performing arts touring and presenting field. The National Arts Centre is Canada’s pre-eminent showcase for the performing arts and the catalyst for the performing arts nationally. The National Arts Centre is home to the internationally acclaimed National Arts Centre Orchestra, and is a leader in the presentation of: classical music, dance, English and French theatre, variety and community programming.

- 30 –

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
 

Mélanie Bureau

Operations Manager
CAPACOA

613-562-3515

melanie.bureau@capacoa.ca

 

Andrea Ruttan

Communications Strategist, National Creation Fund

National Arts Centre

613 947-7000, ext 396
andrea.ruttan@nac-cna.ca