nora chipaumire wins the 2023 Grand Prix de la danse de Montréal. The artist struck minds and hearts during the last Festival TransAmériques, where she presented Nehandaa four and a half hour dance opera which addresses the question of the resistance of the Shona people in Zimbabwe, the country where the choreographer was born.
As in 2015, 2014 and 2012, the Grand Prix jury chose this year to salute a foreign artist. nora chipaumire thus joins the winners Alain Platel, Meg Stuart and Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker.
Remember that this prize, accompanied by a $25,000 scholarship, is awarded to an artist who has presented in the city of Montreal a choreography deemed to be an “exceptional contribution to dance”.
Among other awards, the prize for best choreographic work went to Coronation of Lila, which is inspired by the mystical and musical celebrations of Morocco. The piece will also be performed again at the beginning of 2024 during a short tour which will visit Longueuil, Laval and the borough of L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève.
Mystic Rootz, also an urban dance teacher, specializing in popping, receives the Performer prize. The Made in Quebec prize goes to Fabien Piché, and the Envol prize for cultural diversity and inclusive dance practices goes to Deepa Nallapan.
Finally, Pierre Des Marais, artistic and general director of Danse Danse, receives the Cultural Manager Award for the 26e season of the organism.
The last two winners of the Grand Prix de la danse de Montréal were Catherine Gaudet and Mélanie Demers.