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We are thrilled to announce the recipients of two awards that acknowledge the achievements of British Columbia’s choreographers. Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin, Artistic Co-Directors of Company 605, receive the biennial Lola Award; and Margaret Grenier, Executive and Artistic Director of the Dancers of Damelahamid, receives the annual Isadora Award.

Our Executive Director Mirna Zagar says: “I am so pleased that we are able to celebrate the accomplishments of some of BC’s most exciting and influential dance artists through these two awards.

“Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin have built a repertoire of innovative work which is deeply integrated with other disciplines. Margaret Grenier’s leadership of the Dancers of Damelahamid and the Coastal Dance Festival has elevated the work of Indigenous artists and pushed the boundaries of the form.

“These awards, which are also supported by generous donors, illustrate the depth and diversity of artistry in BC’s dance community.”

About the Awards
The Lola Award is designed to encourage the work of mid-career and senior choreographers. The biennial $10,000 award is supported by the Lola McLaughlin Endowment Fund with the Vancouver Foundation and administered by The Dance Centre. Tony Giacinti, Lola’s husband and a major contributor to the establishment of the award, said: “We hope this Award will reflect and nurture some of the essence of Lola’s spirit, artistic approach and vision, and contribute to the growth of a Vancouver aesthetic that reaches beyond our shores.” Since its initiation the Award has been presented to Crystal Pite (2012), Lee Su-Feh (2014), Rosario Ancer (2016), Justine A. Chambers (2018), Paras Terezakis (2020) and Helen Walkley (2022).

The annual Isadora Award, named after the dance pioneer Isadora Duncan (1878-1927), was instituted by The Dance Centre in 1999 to recognize the achievements of BC’s dance professionals. The artists receive a cash award of $5,000, access to studio time at Scotiabank Dance Centre towards the creation of a new work, and a specially-designed award created by renowned glass sculptor Mary Filer. Previous recipients have included Crystal Pite, Wen Wei Wang, Jennifer Mascall, Julia Taffe, Gabrielle Martin and Jeremiah Hughes of Corporeal Imago, and Raven Spirit Dance, amongst others.

Read more about the artists here: Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin, Margaret Grenier 

Congratulations Lisa, Josh and Margaret!

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Photos: Lisa Mariko Gelley, Josh Martin/Max Tamoto; Margaret Grenier/Chris Randle