Gioconda Barbuto - 1996 Co-Winner

Toronto born Gioconda Barbuto initially trained with Gladys Forrester and continued her training on full scholarships at The Banff Centre and the Professional Program of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She has danced with the Minnesota Dance Theatre and was a soloist with Les Grand's Ballets Canadiens.

Over the course of her long career, Gioconda distinguished herself in an impressive number of works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, John Butler, Nacho Duato, Michel Fokin, Jírí Kylián, James Kudleka, Ginette Laurin, José Limon, Hans van Manen, Brian MacDonald, Mark Morris, Ohad Naharin, Fernand Nault and Antony Tudor.
 

After sixteen years with Les Grand's Ballets Canadiens, Gioconda is now an independent dancer/choreographer. She has performed with Danse Théâtre de Montréal, Fortier Danse-Création and Margie Gillis. With the grants awarded to her by the Canada Council, Gioconda went on to create and perform projects with Danse-Cité. In recognition of her talent as a choreographer, Gioconda was the recipient of the Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award in 1996. Her works can be seen in the repertoire of Les Grand's Ballets Canadiens, Alberta Ballet, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Ballet Jörgen, The Kiss Project and on the television network BRAVO. Gioconda joined Nederlands Dans Theater III in June 1998.

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Joe Laughlin - 1996 Co-Winner

Joe Laughlin is an award-winning choreographer who performed extensively before establishing his company, Joe Ink, in 1995. A particularly versatile and prolific choreographer with over 30 works to his credit, he has been praised for his originality, humor and lyricism.

Joe has received numerous commissions to create for dance, theatre and film, and his works have been presented extensively in Canada, as well as in the US, Europe, China and Mexico. He has been in residence at The Banff Center for the Arts several times. Some projects there include an interdisciplinary production of Stravinsky's Les Noces, James Reaney's landmark Canadian play Sticks and Stones and Herr, a dance for the camera directed by John Greyson. In 1996 Joe was the recipient of the Clifford E. Choreography Lee Award and here he created L'Etiquette, which entered the repertoire of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1997.
 

Photo: Don Lee

Joe Laughlin is the Artistic Director of Joe Ink. He has created many pieces for his company, most recently flick, The Body Remembers and Swing Theory, which premiered in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Canada. His most recent creation is Seven, a cabaret performance that was performed February 17 to March 5, 2000, in Vancouver.

Since its inception Joe Ink has presented a variety of workshops and performances and has partnered with organizations such as the National Arts Center, the Canada Dance Festival, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival, Bravo and PBS Television. Joe is also is also well regarded for his dynamic teaching and choreography for young dancers.

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CHIAROSCURO

World Premiere
Eric Harvie Theatre
July 17, 18, 19 & 20, 1996

Choreography: Gioconda Barbuto
Music: selections from E.C. Woodley, Allan Gordon Bell, Meredith Monk and Dave Heath
Lighting Design: Harry Frenher
Costume Design: Denise Barrett

Chiaroscuro at the 1996 
Banff Arts Festival.
Photo: Don Lee
 

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L'Etiquette

World Premiere
Eric Harvie Theatre
July 17, 18, 19 & 20, 1996

Choreography: Joe Laughlin
Assisted by: Lynn Sheppard
Music: selections by Bach, Corelli, Vivaldi
Lighting Design: Harry Frehner
Costume Design: Denise Barrett

The 1996 Festival Dance Company in L’Etiquette
In the foreground (left to right):
 Pascale de Kerckhove, Tara Butler, Alize Abele, Sean Ling.
Photo: Don Lee