Our 2014 laureates are a wonderful group of artists. Our editor extraordinaire, Diana Tyndale of Piranha Communications, interviewed all our recipients prior to the announcement at the Phi Centre on March 26. Our recipients will be honoured at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) Gala on Saturday, May 10 at the National Arts Centre. Diana asked each of the recipients how they felt about receiving the GGPAA. You’ll see a common thread in many of the responses, relating to how touched they were to receive the Award, but some of them also express unease at receiving an award for a lifetime of work.
The GGPAA is Canada’s highest honour bestowed upon Canadian performing artists. Being named a recipient of the Award caused our recipients to reflect on their storied careers and the honours they have received.Two of our 2014 recipients come from the world of dance. Both admit they have struggled with self-doubt, but the overwhelming sentiment from both is that they are touched that their work has been recognized. In the first of a series of blog posts, find out what dancers Anik Bissonnette and Louise Lecavalier think of the honour.
Anik Bissonnette says she’s always been plagued by self-doubt, but even though she lacked confidence, she always knew she was meant to be a dancer. Of her GGPAA, Ms. Bissonnette says:
As far as I’m concerned, there is no greater award than this. It’s truly a huge, huge honour. I may have mentioned that I’m plagued by self-doubt, that’s one of my faults: I was really happy, but I kept thinking, “Is this for real? Do I really deserve it?” I think I have to learn to tell myself, “Yes, really deserve it!”
Here’s what Louise Lecavalier had to say about receiving the Award:
Certainly I’m touched to be among artists I admire who have received these awards, who have accepted these awards. It’s touching, it’s an honour, but at the same time it’s a shock because I feel like such a novice in my field. It’s enormously risky every time; every time I feel like I’m starting at zero—well, not quite zero, but that’s what it feels like. And I feel too young to be receiving awards!
And then I think, maybe everyone who receives an award feels too young. Especially in the arts, it’s all about the process: there’s no point at which you can truly say, “That’s it, I’ve made it.”… When an award like this comes along, I’m forced to admit, “I guess it wasn’t so bad.” It doesn’t mean things will get easier, but it’s very encouraging. It’s touching and astonishing at the same time.
Look for the next blog in our series detailing our 2014 laureates’ reflections on the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. Until then, thanks for reading about two dancers who are truly deserving of this award.
-Jami