MPP Liz Sandals announced last week that choreographer David Earle and the Guelph Jazz Festival are finalists for the 2008 premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
It honours an individual artist and an arts organization that have made a substantial and distinguished contribution to arts and culture in Ontario. Twelve artists and organizations from across the province are on the shortlist this year.
The Guelph Jazz Festival was founded in 1994, and has earned critical acclaim for presenting innovative jazz and creative improvised music in a community setting. The festival features a mainstage program showcasing Canadian and international artists, a free downtown jazz tent, an educational colloquium that looks at jazz’s influence on society and culture, and a jazz around town series.
Over the years, the festival has expanded its offerings to include community workshops, a Jazz in the Schools program and the launch of its own recording label, IntrepidEar. The festival has commissioned and presented three original jazz operas, Passages, Québécité, and In Place of Wishes.
Earle is one of Canada’s beloved choreographers. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, he created over 130 dance works. He was a co-founder and artistic director of Toronto Dance Theatre, and led the company to acclaim in New York, Europe, and Asia.
Among his signature works are Sacra Conversazione, Orpheus and Eurydice, Realm and in collaboration with James Kudelka, Court of Miracles. Earle launched Dancetheatre David Earle (DtDE) in 1997 to provide a forum where younger artists could draw inspiration from his work. He has choreographed 41 new works with DtDE, and in 2001, made a permanent home for the company in Guelph.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in June.
“We are proud to have two finalists for the premier’s award this year,” said Sandals. “Guelph is clearly being been recognized for our substantial contribution to arts and culture in Ontario.”
