Dance Ontario Awards

Dance Ontario offers awards in three categories:
- The Dance Ontario Award for Lifetime Achievement given in recognition of the unique contribution of an individual over a lifetime to the development of dance in the province.

- The Dance Innovation Award in recognition of a special or forward-thinking initiative undertaken by an individual.
2010 Recipient
Eroca Nicols

- The Community Service Award to recognize an individual's support for the dance community.
Past recipients
John Newton
Ted Fox
Alan Page
Patrick Kutney.

Roelof Peter (Ron)Snippe Recipient of the Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award

The Dance Ontario Awards Jury is delighted to announce that the recipient of this year's Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award is Roelof Peter (Ron) Snippe, one of Canada's foremost lighting designers.

Given in recognition of the unique contribution of an individual over a lifetime, jurors Mimi Beck, Joanna de Souza, Bill Kimball, Sara Porter, Janelle Rainville and Michael Trent assessed the six exceptional and worthy submissions, based on the breadth and depth of each nominee's contribution to the Ontario dance sector.

Said Committee Chair, Allison Cummings "It's wonderful that we can celebrate an individual who has supported, collaborated and shared his artistry so humbly in our community. As Christopher House commented "...one of our most gifted and dedicated lighting designers, he has formed part of the bedrock of dance in this province".

Mr. Snippe began his 37 year professional lighting design career with Toronto Workshop Productions under the direction of George Luscombe. In 1973, he began a long working relationship with Toronto Dance Theatre, creating designs for over 150 works in the repertoire. Over his long, distinguished career as a lighting designer, stage manager and technical director, he has worked with schools such as Cawthra Park Secondary School, major dance, theatre and opera companies across Canada and abroad and was the original lighting designer for Dance Ontario's DanceWeekend. Other companies include the National Ballet of Canada, The Danny Grossman Dance Company, Dancemakers, and numerous others as well as presenters (DanceWorks) and independent artists, including Denise Fujiwara who nominated Mr. Snippe for the Award.

Past recipients are Charlotte Holmes, Grant Strate, Lawrence & Miriam Adams, Brian Robinson, Trish Beatty, David Earle, Peter Randazzo, Lois Smith, Herbert Whittaker, Janet Baldwin, Boris Volkoff, Nesta Williams Toumine, Judy Jarvis, Joysanne Sidimus, Dr. R.N. Laidlaw, Rina Singha, Peter Boneham (1992), Gladys Forrester (1993), Vera Davis (1993), Carol Anderson (1994), Rose Hill (1997), Danny Grossman (1998), Patricia Miner (2004), Mimi Beck (2007).

Mr. Snippe will receive the award on May 29, 2011 @ an event to be held at the Winchester Street Theatre, Toronto.

PAST RECIPIENTS

  • Charlotte Holmes
  • Grant Strate
  • Lawrence & Miriam Adams
  • Brian Robinson
  • Trish Beatty
  • David Earle
  • Peter Randazzo
  • Lois Smith
  • Herbert Whittaker
  • Janet Baldwin
  • Boris Volkoff
  • Nesta Williams Toumine
  • Judy Jarvis
  • Joysanne Sidimus
  • Dr. R.N. Laidlaw
  • Rina Singha
  • Peter Boneham (1992)
  • Gladys Forrester (1993)
  • Vera Davis (1993)
  • Carol Anderson (1994)
  • Rose Hill (1997)
  • Danny Grossman (1998)
  • Patricia Miner (2004)
  • Mimi Beck (2007)
  • Roelof Peter (Ron) Snippe