Ashley Page of Scottish Ballet winner of the De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement. © Andrew Ross
The 12th National Dance Awards – The Place, London: 23 January 2012
The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2011 took place today in London at The Place’s Robin Howard Dance Theatre.
The awards are decided by the 60 members of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle after an extensive round of nominations and voting. To be eligible, performances had to be given in the UK between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011
2011 CRITICS’ CIRCLE NATIONAL DANCE AWARDS WINNERS
OUTSTANDING MALE PERFORMANCE (CLASSICAL)
Gary Avis / The Royal Ballet
OUTSTANDING FEMALE PERFORMANCE (MODERN)
Sylvie Guillem for ‘6,000 Miles Away’
BEST INDEPENDENT COMPANY
Luca Silvestrini’s Protein
BEST CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY
David Bintley for ‘Cinderella’ by Birmingham Royal Ballet
BEST MODERN CHOREOGRAPHY
Akram Khan for ‘Vertical Road’
OUTSTANDING FEMALE PERFORMANCE (CLASSICAL)
Sophie Martin / Scottish Ballet
OUTSTANDING MALE PERFORMANCE (MODERN)
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui for ‘Dunas’
JOHN DOYLE CONSTRUCTION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMPANY
Mariinsky Ballet
JANE ATTENBOROUGH DANCE UK INDUSTRY AWARD
David Burnie / Director of Administration and Finance, The Place
THE DANCING TIMES AWARD FOR BEST MALE DANCER
Steven McRae / The Royal Ballet
GRISHKO AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE DANCER
Daria Klimentová / English National Ballet
DE VALOIS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Ashley Page / Artistic Director, Scottish Ballet
The winners © John Ross
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Awards committee, Graham Watts OBE, said: ‘These awards emphasise the UK’s thriving dance culture and it is wonderful to see so many superb artists and companies nominated by the dance critics for 2011.
We are especially delighted to have come to the home of contemporary dance in London for the awards ceremony.’
For the second year, the Master of Ceremonies was the Chief Executive of The Place, Kenneth Tharp OBE, who said:
The National Dance Awards are a hugely important moment in the annual calendar for us all to celebrate the most memorable achievements in dance from the past year. As both a natural home and springboard for the careers of so many artists, we are delighted this year to be hosting the awards here at The Place for the first time. Warmest congratulations to all those who have been nominated.
The 2011 National Dance Awards Sponsors are: Grishko, Dancing Times, John Doyle Construction, The Ballet Association, Lee McLernon, Paul & Shirlie Morrell, The Critics’ Circle and Dance UK for the Jane Attenborough Dance UK Industry Award.