Montreal Dance Prize 2023 | Nora Chipaumire’s “live art” awarded the Grand Prix

The creator Nora Chipaumire dazzled the jury of the Prix de la danse de Montréal, who awarded her the Grand Prize for this year 2023, notably for her work Nehandaa transdisciplinary river opera presented during the last edition of the FTA.

Born in 1965 in Zimbabwe, nora chipaumire is based in New York, where she devotes herself to “ live art », an artistic approach which takes its source from life itself, and where the body seeks to develop and express what languages ​​and words cannot say. His works touch on politics and notably evoke colonial issues. She also stood out with her political manifesto and concert in three parts #Punk 100% POP*NIGGAwhich toured all over the world before the pandemic, and Nhakaa research project where she studies the nature of black bodies and the products of their imagination.

The jury praised his unique approach which explores themes linked to colonial history and resilience, as well as the moving work that is Nehanda, “an experience of love and an act of justice, in an open and de-Westernizing form”. The award comes with a $25,000 scholarship.

New prize and other winners

This year, a brand new prize is appearing: Made in Quebec aims to highlight the work of an individual, organization or collective from the City of Quebec and Wendake. It is the talented performer Fabien Piché, seen in particular in creations by Karine Ledoyen, Alan Lake, Paul-André Fortier and Parts+Labour_danse who is the first recipient.

The choreographer Ismaël Mouaraki receives the prize for Best choreographic work of the year for Lila’s coronationpremiered at the Agora de la danse in 2023, which “delicately stages male intimacy and vulnerability”, in a fruitful encounter between his native Morocco and his adopted land, Quebec.

The Performer prize was awarded to Mecdy Jean Pierre – Mystic Rootz is his stage name – for his solo Transelucentpresented at Tangente, a convincing alloy of his mastery of popping and his Afro-descendant roots, and also for his involvement in the community of street dance.

Well known in the dance world, where he has worked for 50 years, notably as artistic and general director of Danse Danse which is in its 26th year.^e season, Pierre Des Marais received the Cultural Manager award for his vision and leadership.

Among the other winners, note the choreographer, performer and event producer Nicolas Zemmour (Prix Étincelle, for his promotion of dance in Estrie), the choreographer, performer and teacher of Bharata Natyam Deepa Nallapan (Prix Envol, for cultural diversity and inclusive practices in dance) and the artist Ivanie Aubin-Malo (Revelation Prize).