June 26, 2019 – It is with great pride that the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal announces the nomination of Linda Rabin, its co-founder, as a Member in the Order of Canada. This distinction, awarded by Governor General Julie Payette, recognizes Rabin's outstanding contribution to the art of dance in Canada.
Created in 1967, the Order of Canada was established in order to recognize exceptional achievements and service in a wide range of endeavours. This honorary accolade celebrates a recipient’s outstanding talent and their body of work.
A visionary pioneer of Canadian dance and an outstanding teacher, Linda has been significantly contributing to emerging generations of contemporary dancers and artists in Quebec and abroad for 50 years.
"I am so honoured to become a Member of the Order of Canada – honoured to be acknowledged for my participation in and contribution to the art of dance in Canada, and particularly in Montreal. I am filled with gratitude when I think of all the dancers with whom I have worked over the decades and without whom I would not have received this honour. Dance and movement have been my life-long passion. My curiosity and appetite for continued exploration have been matched by the willingness of dancers to explore with me, to ride the endless waves of movement that are life itself. You have inspired me through our interactions in class, rehearsal and performance. Because of you I continue to live a meaningful and fulfilling life in movement. From my heart, I thank you for being a part of my journey.
May we never cease to deepen our understanding of movement as art, as creative expression, and as the source of our well-being. I look forward to our continued forays into the unknown", says Rabin.
In addition, in 2018 Linda Rabin was nominated as a Distinguished Member in the Order of Excellence in Education from the Quebec Ministry of Education and Higher Education which recognized her invaluable contribution to contemporary dance in Quebec.
The Board of Directors and the entire team of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal warmly congratulates Linda Rabin for receiving this award which honours her invaluable contribution to contemporary dance in Canada.
About Linda Rabin:
A graduate of the Juilliard School (BFA in Dance, 1967), she was first a coach and teacher for the Batsheva Dance Company in Israel and the Rambert Ballet in London, then a teacher and choreographer for companies, schools and university programs in Canada, including Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Montréal Danse, Dancemakers, Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, Simon Fraser University, UQAM, The School of Toronto Dance Theater and Winnipeg's School of Contemporary Dance.
In the early 1980s in Quebec, while a strong movement of research and experimentation in dance was laying the foundation for contemporary dance in Quebec, Linda co-founded, with Candace Loubert, Les Ateliers de Danse Moderne de Montreal Inc. (LADMMI), which is now the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal. At the time of its creation, the School was the first Quebec institution to professionally train dancers outside the area of classical dance – a decisive step for pursuing the professional dance practice in Quebec and Canada.
With an approach based on physical training, the creative process and somatic techniques since the founding of the institution in 1981, her vision of high-calibre professional training has contributed to this day to the distinctiveness of Montreal dance, its dancers and artists. This has helped shape the unique and distinctive character of the School.
Today, Linda teaches Creative Research courses at the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal while providing international internship courses. Her teaching integrates her dance experience, creative process and somatic education. They draw on various dance influences and practices, which help young dancers discover their inner artistic personality, as well as dance creation from the dancer’s perspective, while seeking an authentic and personal way of moving and enhancing their expression.
Photo: Tony Chong
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