Announcing the Hnatyshyn Foundation – Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant

February 28, 2024

The Hnatyshyn Foundation is thrilled to announce a new grant that will support Canadian ballet dancers preparing to begin their professional career. As artists face financial uncertainty and a high cost of living, The Hnatyshyn Foundation – Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant of $10,000 will support an exceptionally talented young dancer by bridging the gap between their full-time training and professional practice.

Eligibility

This grant is designed to help the most promising young Canadian ballet dancers. Canadian ballet dancers aged 16 and up who are entering the final or penultimate year of a full-time, recognized post-secondary educational program, or entering a full-time educational, training, or apprenticeship program of one year or less at a recognized ballet company are eligible. Students and apprentices are eligible.

Process

Canadian ballet training institutions may submit up to two candidates per year. Institutions are encouraged to consider candidates who express financial need and/or who identify as part of a group that is underrepresented in Canadian ballet. A panel of advisors appointed by the Foundation will adjudicate the performance work of the nominees. The recipient of the grant will be notified in the summer and will receive the grant in the fall of that same year.

The full guidelines for this program can be found at https://www.rjhf.com/current-programs/the-hnatyshyn-foundation-joysanne-sidimus-ballet-grant.

Joysanne Sidimus, M.S.M.

The Hnatyshyn Foundation is extremely proud to name this award after Joysanne Sidimus, one of Canada’s most esteemed ballerinas and a former board member of The Hnatyshyn Foundation.

As a répétiteur for The George Balanchine Trust, Joysanne Sidimus has staged Balanchine’s works for dance companies and schools the world over. Born in New York , Ms. Sidimus studied under Mr. Balanchine at the School of American Ballet and then joined his New York City Ballet. She later performed as a soloist with London’s Festival Ballet and as a Principal Dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada. Ms. Sidimus is the founder of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre and was its Executive Director for twenty years. She was also the founding Vice President of the Artists’ Health Centre, a comprehensive health care facility for artists at Toronto Western Hospital. In 2003, she was awarded the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal and in 2006, she received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Dance – 2006).

Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic

“Gerda Hnatyshyn was one of the most influential people in my life and so I am deeply honoured to see my name attached to her beloved foundation for this scholarship.

Mrs. Hnatyshyn was a woman of unswerving energy, creativity, and commitment to the goals of the Foundation. I also knew her to be elegant, diplomatic, generous and a true friend. Her hand-written notes remain with me as lovely memories of this exceptional woman.

Heartfelt gratitude to famed philanthropist Lynda Hamilton for her generosity in funding this honour,” said Ms. Sidimus.

Donor: Lynda Hamilton

The Hnatyshyn Foundation sincerely thanks Lynda Hamilton for generously funding this award and suggesting we name it in honour of her friend and colleague, Ms. Sidimus.

A passionate advocate for the physical and mental health of performing artists, Ms. Hamilton has dedicated her career to supporting initiatives and institutions that offer artists support at various stages of their careers. Notably, along with Ms. Sidimus, Ms. Hamilton was a co-founder of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, a national, charitable organization dedicated to helping dancers make necessary transitions into, within, and from professional performing careers. She also founded the Valleyview Artist Retreat, offering free, week-long retreats for artists and arts administrators to find inspiration and respite. In 2021, Ms. Hamilton was honoured with the prestigious Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Volunteerism in the Arts.

Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic

We look forward to receiving nominations for the inaugural Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant, to be awarded in 2024!