CriticalDance Forum

Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund

Laban, Creekside, London SE8 3DZ Tel: +44 (0)20 8691 8600
Fax: +44 (0)20 8691 8400 Email: bbcf@laban.org Website: www.bbcf.org.uk

News Information
25 July 2003

Chris de Marigny Dance Writers’ Award - deadline extended

The deadline for applications for the Chris de Marigny dance writers’ award has been extended until Monday 22 September 2003. The award of £1250.00 aims to provide an opportunity for an emerging dance writer to undertake a project which will help develop the individual as a writer. The winner of the award will be announced at an award ceremony in November.

The award aims to assist dance writers in the early stages of their career, to raise the quality of dance writing in Britain, and to contribute to the collection of dance writers developing alongside and reflecting the wealth of dance in Britain.
Applications are welcome from dance writers on all styles for all publishing contexts; British dance writers or writers who have lived in the UK for at least 12 months; and dance writers who have not yet received regular/substantial exposure in public print.

The Chris de Marigny dance writers’ award is part of the Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund established in 1984 to support and promote innovative choreographers in Britain, Europe and America. The Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund is a working charity. It has given financial support to over 45 writers and choreographers, as well as providing commissions, research and other practical projects.

For further information and an application form visit www.bbcf.org.uk or contact:
Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund, c/o Laban, Creekside, London, SE8 3DZ
Email: bbcf@laban.org

<small>[ 15 November 2003, 02:50 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

NEWS RELEASE

Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund Awards 2003 – winners announced

The annual Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund awards took place yesterday at Laban. The awards were presented by Jeanette Siddall, Director of Dance, Arts Council England.

UK New Choreography Award (£1500.00)
Maho Ihara
Niklas Laustiola
Rosie Kay

Chris de Marigny Dance Writers’ Award (£1200.00)
Catherine Hale and Lyndsey Winship (joint winners)

North American New Choreography Award
Victor Quijada
Victor has been commissioned to create a new work for Transitions Dance Company.

The Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund was established in 1984 to support and promote innovative choreographers in Britain, Europe and America. Bonnie Bird was one of the original members of the Martha Graham Dance Company and became one of the first official teachers of Martha Graham’s technique - her pupils included Merce
Cunningham. On the occasion of Bonnie Bird's 70th birthday, friends and colleagues from around the world gave generous donations to mark her 50-year involvement in dance. Bonnie Bird used these monies to establish the Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund.

The Fund aims to encourage the development of choreographers or dance writers in the early stages of their career. Previous winners include: Maresa von Stockert, Darren Johnston, Kwesi Johnson, Mark Baldwin, Matthew Bourne, Ian Bramley, Sophie Travers, Lea Anderson and Rosemary Lee.

Notes

The New Choreography Award is given to choreographers to undertake research, a personal project or personal study which the choreographer believes will contribute in a vital way to forwarding his/her development as an artist. To be eligible to apply choreographers can work in any dance style, but must be British choreographers or choreographers who have lived in the UK for at least 12 months who have not yet received regular/substantial funding.

The Chris de Marigny Dance Writers’ award is given to undertake any project which the dance writer believes will contribute in a vital way to forwarding his or her development as a writer.

The North American award is by nomination only to create an original work for Transitions Dance Company.

Bonnie Bird was a member of the original Martha Graham Dance Company and went on to become Graham’s principal assistant. She joined the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle as Head of Dance. She was a founder member and a president of the American Dance Guild, as well as The Congress on Research in Dance (CORD).
In 1974 she became Director of the Dance Theatre Department at Laban and helped to institute Britain’s first BA (Hons) degree in Dance Theatre studies, and Britain’s first MA and PhD degrees in Dance Studies. In 1982 Bonnie Bird founded Transitions Dance Company, Britain’s foremost professional training company for young dancers, remaining as Artistic Director until her death in 1995.

The Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund is a working charity. It has given financial support to over 45 writers and choreographers, as well as providing commissions, research and other practical projects. The Fund relies entirely upon the generosity of people who want to support new choreographic work.

Congratulations to all the winners of the various 2003 awards.

We are particularly delighted that Lyndsey Winship, one of our most prolific reviewers here at CriticalDance has won the Chris de Marigny Dance Writers’ Award. Given the quality of her writing, the prize came as no surprise. At the award ceremny she was kind enough to mention all the help and support she has received from CriticalDance.

The other winner of the Chris de Marigny Dance Writers’ Award, Catherine Hale, has written for the websites londondance.com and ballet.co.uk. So this year's award can be seen as a coming of age for the dance website movement and recognition that they are a fruitful place for new dance writers to gain experience.

Congratulations Lyndsey.