Winners of the RQD’s Prix INTERPRÈTE

// Version française 

The RQD awards the Prix INTERPRÈTE to Esther Gaudette and Manuel Roque, and congratulates Lorraine Hébert, winner of the Prix GESTIONNAIRE CULTUREL. 

Montreal, November 30, 2017 – Esther Gaudette and Manuel Roque were named the joint winners of the Prix INTERPRÈTE presented by the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) and the Caisse Desjardins de la Culture. The award comes with a cash prize of $10,000, which they will share. The RQD also congratulates its former executive director, Lorraine Hébert, winner of the Prix GESTIONNAIRE CULTUREL presented by Diagramme – gestion culturelle, and all the other recipients of the PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL (PDM).

Two winners of the Prix INTERPRÈTE

The PDM jury cited Esther Gaudette’s keen sensitivity and total commitment to a path devoid of complacency, as well as the consistency of her aesthetic choices. It also singled out her great power, precision and dramatic instincts. “I can feel dance everywhere. It is action, emotion in movement, the power of the body, engagement and balance. It is fascinating and vibrant, often attaining a state of grace, which allows us to continue believing in beauty in every form,” said Esther Gaudette.

Poetic and virtuosic dancer Manuel Roque drew notice thanks to his creative passion, richly diversified career, and the rigour and depth of his approach. He also earned the Prix du CALQ for Best Choreographic Work of the 2016-2017 season for his solo bang bang. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Roque called for an effort to slow the frantic pace of production. “The entertainment and profitability steamrollers carry disproportionate weight on the cultural scene nowadays, and insidiously, they contaminate a number of spheres in the creative space. Perhaps we could talk a little less about numbers and a little more about sensations, emotions, inspirations, aspirations, questions, and commitments,” said Roque to the 300 or so people in attendance.

The RQD, in presenting the Prix INTERPRÈTE, rewards dancers for the quality of their work, the rigour of their approach, and their commitment to creation and the development of professional dance in Québec. The award comes with a cash prize of $10,000, which is presented thanks to financial contributions from the RQD and the Caisse Desjardins de la Culture, proud partner of dance.

Former RQD director honoured

The RQD is pleased and proud to see Lorraine Hébert win the Prix GESTIONNAIRE CULTUREL presented by Diagramme – gestion culturelle. This award comes with a cash prize of $5,000. The board of directors of Diagramme cited her unwavering commitment as executive director of the RQD for 13 years (2003-2016), highlighting her exceptional contribution to the development of dance. Ms. Hébert is a woman of strong convictions and a huge fan of artists. As the architect of the Grands Chantiers de la danse and the Master Plan for Professional Dance in Québec 2011-2021, she has left an indelible mark on the dance community.

About:
The Regroupement québécois de la danse represents more than 500 dance professionals on public stages and in the political arena. Founded in 1984 to give a shared voice to Québec’s dance community, the RQD has since played a leadership role in developing projects that help consolidate the discipline. Its achievements are intended to promote dance in all its expressions, support its establishment and deployment across Québec, and build bridges between professionals, amateurs and lovers of dance.

The Caisse Desjardins de la Culture was created in 1994 with the objective of giving artists, artisans, creators and cultural organizations the means to give full expression to their talents and fulfill their aspirations. Thousands of self-employed workers and companies in the cultural sector have made it their main financial institution. At the Caisse de la Culture, we understand your situation; at the Caisse de la Culture, we speak the same language as you.

Les Prix de la Danse de Montréal is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to promote Montréal as an international centre for the creation and dissemination of dance and to highlight the dynamism of personalities, companies and institutions in the dance field.

Source:
Coralie Muroni
Director of Communications
514 849-4003, extension 222 
cmuroni@quebecdanse.org

To find out more:
Esther Gaudette: biographie (in French only) | vidéo
Manuel Roque: biographie (in French only) | vidéo
Lorraine Hébert: biographie (in French only) | vidéo
Visit the Prix de la danse de Montréal website to view the complete list of winners.