Canadian artists win at the Bruhn competition

>> by Marie Claire Forté
Two Canadians were honoured at the Eighth International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize on March 18th, 2009 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. The National Ballet of Canada’s Russian-born Elena Lobsanova won the award for best female dancer, competing alongside female dancers from American Ballet Theatre, Royal Danish Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet. Canadian contemporary choreographer Matjash Mrozewski won the new Choreographic Prize for his work Dénouement, performed by the National Ballet’s Lobsanova and Noah Long. Cory Stearns, a soloist with American Ballet Theatre, won the award for male dancers. The winners each received a cash prize and a sculpture by Canadian artist Jack Culiner. Erik Bruhn (1928–1986), danseur noble and artistic director of the National Ballet from 1983 through 1986, created the prize as part of his legacy to celebrate talented young dancers.

PHOTO: Cory Stearns of American Ballet Theatre and Elena Lobsanova of The National Ballet of Canada, winners of The Eighth International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize / Photo by Bruce Zinger