THE standard of Irish dance so improved in 1996 that Irish companies, dancers and choreographers were contenders in all categories.
Dance Show of the Year the short list included Tap Dogs (Gaiety) in March, Tango Passion (Olympia) in August and The Russian State Ballet with Nutcracker (Point) last week. Despite weaknesses in plot and design, Lord of the Dance was added for its drama, virtuosity and choreographic innovation, while the substantially revised and much improved Riverdance the Show was excluded because it has been seen only in New York, London and on video. John Scott's You Must Tell The Bees for Irish Modern Dance Company squeezed in for its innovative collaboration with playwright Tom McIntyre. But for again presenting work of originality and international standards, the title goes to CoisCeim Dance Theatre's double bill of Dragons and Tonics and Straight With Curves.
Dancer of the Year: there was tough competition from Michael Flatley (Lord of the Dance, Point) and Eric Bouvron of Les Odes Bleues (Iguazu, The Great Waters, Ark), while J.J.Formento made the short list for his performances with Dance Theatre of Ireland (Deseo and Body Travels Time, Samuel Beckett), as well as The King and I and Pirates of Penzance (Olympia). But the title goes to Marina Leonkina of the Ukrainian State Ballet, whose Giselle (Olympia) ranked with that of legendary ballerinas like Ulanova, Markova and Fonteyn.
Most Promising New Choreographer: Dubliner Andrew Wilson, for his short classically based piece with a contemporary feel, Zoku (Firkin Crane). Most Improved Choreographer: Shared between Paul Johnson for the athletic and inventive lifts given to his all male company Mandance in Beautiful Tomorrow (Project) and Adrienne Brown for the clarity of her Sculptura and the classically based This Happened (Samuel Beckett).
Choreographer of the Year: The title is shared between the choreographers of CoisCeim's double bill: Liz Roche, whose Dragons and Tonics created a dream like atmosphere reminiscent of Fellini's Amarcord and David Bolger, whose Straight With Curves was even funnier than his earlier Reel Luck.
