Banff Centre's Koerner award handed out

The Banff Centre in Alberta has handed out its first Koerner Award in Choreography to Kevin O'Day, the current artistic director of Ballett Mannheim in Germany.

It means O'Day will create a new work for the Banff Centre's summer program for emerging ballet dancers, with a focus on original choreography. Dancersselected from companies across Canada will participate in the program, from June until the performance dates at the end of July.

"Kevin O'Day's participation in the program will give the dancers the opportunity to work with a choreographer whose ability to draw on all the great streams of 20th- and 21st-century choreography illuminates the concept of synergy in a uniquely successful way," said Lindsay Fischer, director of Professional Dance at The Banff Centre, in a statement released on Friday.

After O'Day's piece premieres as part of the 2010 Banff Summer Arts Festival from July 20-24,it will also be featured in the 2010-2011 season of Ballet B.C. and Ballett Mannheim.

The 47-year-old dancer is known for his groundbreaking work. He has choreographed more than 30 original pieces for companies, including Les Grands ballets Canadiens, the New York City Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet.

O'Day first trained with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and subsequently became a member of the corps. He also went on to become a soloist with American Ballet Theatre and was a guest dancer with New York City Ballet.

The Koerner award isfunded by the foundation of the same name, which supports many art projects across the country.