Sylvie-Ann Paré
Édouard Lock began his career as a choreographer at the age of 20 and founded La La La Human Steps in 1980. He has received commissions from companies such as the Paris Opera Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Het Nationale Ballet of the Netherlands, and Cullberg Ballet.
As co-designer and artistic director of David Bowie’s worldwide Sound and Vision tour, Édouard Lock also collaborated on Frank Zappa’s The Yellow Shark concert series with Germany’s Ensemble Modern. His other musical collaborators include Einstürzende Neubauten, Steve Albini (Shellac of North America), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine), David Van Tieghem, West India Company, David Lang, and Gavin Bryars. At the invitation of the Paris Opera, Lock choreographed Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera Les Boréades, performed by La La La Human Steps at the Palais Garnier.
Several films have been dedicated to his work. In 1994, Bernar Hébert directed Le petit musée de Vélasquez. In 1997, Lock was invited to participate in Inspirations, a documentary by British filmmaker Michael Apted, alongside painter Roy Lichtenstein, architect Tadao Ando, and David Bowie.
The film adaptation of Amelia, directed by Édouard Lock, had its American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and its European premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film received awards at numerous international festivals, including the Chicago International Film Festival, the Prague International Film Festival, and the Rose d’Or Festival in Switzerland. Amelia also won two Gemini Awards for Best Direction and Best Editing, as well as two ICE (Individual Creative Excellence) Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters in the United States for Best Cinematography and Editing.
Édouard Lock has received many awards, including the Denise-Pelletier Award (2002), the National Arts Centre Award (2001), the Benois de la Danse in Moscow (2003), the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (2010), and the Molson Prize (2010) from the Canada Council for the Arts. He also received the Premio Positano Leonide Massine Prize for Best Author Company. He holds an honorary doctorate from the Université du Québec à Montréal, and has been named Chevalier of the Ordre national du Québec and Officer of the Order of Canada.
JURY NOTES
The jury wanted to highlight not only the remarkable career of Édouard Lock – with works that have spanned history, bold artistic choices, the constant evolution of his art and his exceptional film work – but also the considerable artistic influence this leading figure of contemporary dance has exerted. He opened the door to new audiences, inspired vocations and passions, and revolutionised the world of ballet.
Carl Lessard
