Mocean Dance announces new leadership

Susanne Chui
Photo: Nick Rudnicki

Sara Coffin
Photo: Peter Eastwood

>> by Naomi Brand
Halifax's Mocean Dance has announced that its 2012/13 season will begin under the new leadership of Susanne Chui as the company's artistic director and Sara Coffin as artistic associate. Mocean Co-founder and Artistic Director Carolle Crooks Fernando will be stepping down after more than a decade with the company in order to pursue the next phase of her career. "I have total confidence in the strength of this new leadership," says Crooks Fernando. "Susanne and Sara are dedicated to their craft and to the development of Halifax as a centre for dance creation and production. They value the company's vision and its potential for moving forward.” Coffin has been acting as interim artistic director this past season while Crooks Fernando was on maternity leave and will continue her work with the company next season while also pursuing an MFA in choreography at Smith College in Massachusetts. Chui and Coffin are both contemporary dance artists and co-founders of the cross-Canada collective SiNS (Sometimes in Nova Scotia). "I am excited to bring to Mocean the knowledge I have gained from being an independent dance artist for the past ten years,” says Chui. “I look forward to the new experiences that will come with this position.” Mocean's upcoming season is full of performance and creation activities including touring work across the country, performing a new commission by New Brunswick’s Lesandra Dodson and beginning a new creation with Sara Coffin.

Leica Hardy receives honorary doctorate

>> by Naomi Brand

Dance educator and choreographer Leica Hardy received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Saint Mary's University last month during the spring convocation ceremony. Hardy is the owner and artistic director of the Leica Hardy School of Dance in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where she has contributed to the field of dance for thirty years. Born in Toronto, Hardy trained in ballet and modern dance at York University, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The School of American Ballet in New York and the Banff Centre, studying with Canadian modern dance teachers Linda Rabin, David Earle and Carol Anderson, among others. She has performed across Canada and has choreographed over forty works including pieces for Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Mocean Dance and Symphony Nova Scotia where she has choreographed and directed The Nutcracker for over twenty years. Hardy has had an extensive career as a dance educator in both Ontario and Nova Scotia and is the founder of the Young Company of Halifax Dance. She is in an examiner for the Society of Russian Ballet and is a member of its national executive council. "The offer of the degree was an enormous surprise," says Hardy, "and I am particularly gratified that my contribution to dance over the years is being recognized beyond our dance community. St. Mary's is also making a significant public statement – that dance and dance education are an important part of our lives in Nova Scotia."

New award for emerging dance artists in Nova Scotia

Cynthia Lank, Daphne Cruikshanks, Adrian Hoffman and Francesca Nardi / Photo by Jacqueline Steudler

>> by Brittany Duggan
The Nova Scotia Talent Trust (NSTT) recently announced the creation of a new $1100 award. The award is for existing scholarship recipients who demonstrate exceptional commitment and potential in dance. Made possible through the donation of the late Robert George Jackson and his widow, Daphne Cruikshanks, the fund will be presented at December’s annual NSTT Special Awards ceremony; an event that further acknowledges artists who have already been successful with either the Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter scholarships. Established in 1944, the NSTT is a not-for-profit organization that provides scholarships to developing Nova Scotian artists in dance, music, theatre, visual arts, literary arts and film. www.nstalenttrust.ns.ca

Nova Scotia arts organizations attend APAP

>> by Cynthia Brett
For the first time, Nova Scotia representatives were among fifteen Canadian delegates supported by the Canada Council for the Arts to attend the 2010 Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) in New York City. Mocean Dance, Strategic Arts Management, Music Nova Scotia, 2B Theatre and Cultural Affairs Consulting & Promotion attended the performing arts networking conference from January 8th through 11th where they participated in professional development workshops while networking with colleagues and promoting Canadian performing arts. Their travel was funded by Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage with support from the Canada Council in terms of mentorship and registration fees.
www.canadacouncil.ca
www.artspresenters.org

Older & Reckless Halifax

>> by Brittany Duggan
Halifax will soon present its own version of “Older and Reckless”, an informal performance series showcasing some of Canada’s most celebrated senior choreographers. Originally conceived over ten years ago by Toronto's Claudia Moore, artistic director of MOonhoRsE Dance Theatre, Older and Reckless, according to the Dance Umbrella of Ontario website, features “work from older artists who continue to grow more reckless as time goes by.” For this series, Atlantic Canada’s Live Art Dance Productions has invited choreographers Penny Evans Spicer, Sheilagh Hunt, Veronique MacKenzie, Louise Mussett and Gwen Noah. Moore will join the series as facilitator and outside eye. The event, which runs from March 25th–27th, 2010 at The Bus Stop Theatre, includes public workshops, critical dialogue, performances and a party. http://www.liveartproductions.ca