Montreal dancer-choreographer Marie Chouinard wins $50,000 Walter Carsen Prize

Marie Chouinard is seen in this undated handout photo. The renowned Montreal dancer and choreographer has won the $50,000 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canada Council of the Arts, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

OTTAWA – Renowned Montreal dancer and choreographer Marie Chouinard has won the $50,000 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts.

The artistic director of Compagnie Marie Chouinard and founding president of the Prix de la Danse de Montreal is also an associate dance artist at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and director of dance for the Venice Biennale. She creates new works for her own company as well as international ballet companies.

Named after Toronto businessman and philanthropist Walter Carsen, the award honours Canadian artists who have spent the major part of their career at home working in dance, theatre or music.

The prize was among five awards recently announced by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Genevieve Blouin of La Prairie, Que., and Toronto’s Lynne Kutsukake were each awarded the Canada-Japan Literary Awards. The $10,000 prize is awarded every two years and recognizes literary excellence by Canadian writers and translators whose work encourages mutual understanding between Japan and Canada.

Blouin was honoured for “Hanaken: le sang des samourais,” while Kutsukake was recognized for “The Translation of Love.”

The George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto is receiving the $20,000 York Wilson Endowment Award for the acquisition of “Lying Down Cow” by artist Joe Fafard of Ste. Marthe, Sask.

Victoria composer Cassandra Miller, who is currently based in the U.K., was awarded the $7,500 Jules Leger Prize for New Chamber Music. The prize is designed to support and provide access to the creation of new Canadian works.

Toronto choreographer, dancer and arts educator Yvonne Ng was honoured with the Jacqueline Lemieux Prize. The $6,000 award recognizes the work of an established dance professional who has made an outstanding contribution to dance in Canada.