Media Release

For immediate release
February 19, 2004

Toronto Choreographer Awarded the 2004 Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award

This year’s Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award—one of Canada’s most prestigious opportunities for emerging Canadian choreographers—has been awarded to Toronto choreographer D.A. Hoskins. Included in this unique award is the opportunity to create a new dance work to be performed by the dancers of The Banff Centre’s Professional Dance Program. The work will be premiered as part of Festival Dance during the 2004 Banff Summer Arts Festival.

“The 2004 Banff Summer Arts Festival is truly honoured to showcase such a promising artist on its stage,” says Joanne Morrow, senior vice-president, Programming at The Banff Centre. “Our hope is that Mr. Hoskins’ new work will act as a catalyst for his career and enter the repertoire of dance companies across the country.”

D.A. Hoskins has been active over the past fifteen years, both as a successful dancer and as a choreographer. He has danced with the Canadian Folk Dance Ensemble, Toronto Dance Theatre, and The Canadian Opera Company. As a choreographer, he has created works for Toronto Dance Theatre, the Elora Summer Music Festival, the Penderecki String Quartet, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. He has also taught at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre, L’Ecole de Dance de Quebec and Ryerson University.

“Banff poses a great opportunity to escape the city and savour the exceptional setting and vibrant artists that the Centre brings together,” says Hoskins. “In creating a new dance, my aim will be to draw on the classical language that the dancers excel at and blend it with my own history of movement. I look forward to all the collaborations and connections this opportunity will bring.”

“This year’s Lee Award recipient, D.A. Hoskins, has all of the qualities that are essential for emerging choreographers today; his movement language is unique and engaging, he has an innate sense of musicality and creative discovery,” says Annette av Paul, director of Summer Dance at The Banff Centre. “I anticipate that Mr Hoskins’ new creation will truly connect with audiences at the 2004 Banff Summer Arts Festival.”

The prestigious Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award, administered annually by The Banff Centre to an emerging Canadian choreographer, was established in 1978 by the Clifford E. Lee Foundation to encourage the professional development of Canadian choreographers. The award provides a choreographer with a six-week residency at The Banff Centre to create a new dance work, as well as a $5000 cash award. Past recipients include Andrew Giday, Christopher House, Crystal Pite, Mark Godden, and Bengt Jörgen.

Downloadable image of D.A. Hoskins is available.

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