Danny Nielsen receives the third annual Santa Aloi Award

The Dance Centre has presented virtuoso tap dancer Danny Nielsen with the third annual Santa Aloi Award. The Award was developed to assist choreographers in hiring dancers to rehearse and perform new work. 

The Award is made possible through the generosity of Michael Fellman in honour of Santa Aloi, a dancer and choreographer known for her poignant storytelling through tap, music and contemporary dance.

Originally from New York, she was a founding member of what is now the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University. She served as Chair of the Board of The Dance Centre for eight years and is currently a member of The Dance Centre’s Choreographer’s Circle. Previous recipients of the Santa Aloi Award are Sara Coffin (2010) and Jennifer Clarke (2011).

Nielsen will use the Award to support the creation of a new full length work with an ensemble cast including renowned tap dancers Mattie Shields and Travis Knight. The piece is scheduled to be performed at Scotiabank Dance Centre in fall 2012 and will be co-produced with the Vancouver International Tap Festival.