Stephanie Ballard is an acclaimed choreographer, personal coach and dance educator. She is a recipient of Canada's most prestigious awards for choreography including the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award, the Jean A. Chalmers Award and the Jacqueline Lemieux Prize. Ms. Ballard has created over 40 original works of diversity for stage, film and television.

Formerly an apprentice, dancer, Resident Choreographer and Associate Artistic Director for Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers (1972-83), Ms. Ballard has continued her close affiliation with the company and the school in her capacity as a Guest Choreographer. She has worked as an Artistic

Advisor, a company manager and a choreographer for the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation (1983-96) including extensive touring in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. In 1996 she completed a Residency Etude Project with the Columbia City Ballet (South Carolina) which was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. In 1987 Ms. Ballard received a Major Arts Award from the Manitoba Arts Council and a Discovery Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts in support of her long term Legacy Dance Project. In 1998 she had the pleasure of creating a new work Just Keep Moving for Ballet Jörgen and curated an archival exhibit for Winnipeg's Contemporary dancers 35 Years of New Creations. In 1999 Ms. Ballard was commissioned to create a new work, In Passing, for Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers to celebrate their 35th Anniversary. The work was presented twice within the context of the Modern Dance Festival presented in Winnipeg in October and November of 1999. Presently Ms. Ballard is an Artist-in-Residence with the Professional Training Program for Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers and works as an independent educator, personal coach and choreographer. Recently she received a grant from The Canada Council for the Arts to create new work within the context of her Millennium Project.

"Being a recipient of the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award was and continues to be a cherished honour."
"Often when people meet on mutual ground, natural patterns evolve and ritual is established. Sometimes it’s best to simply let things be and accept light failing."
- Stephanie Ballard

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Light Failing (1982)

World Premiere, Eric Harvie Theatre
July 29, 30 & 31, 1982

Choreography: Stephanie Ballard
Music: Vangelis Papathanassiou
Costume Design and Construction: Marvin Schlichting and Julia Tribe
Lighting Design: Peter McKinnon

The 1982 Festival Dance Company in
Light Failing.
Photo: Kathleen Watt