Outstanding Awards and Scholarships: Honoring the Next Generation and Their Allies

On April 22, the Fondation of l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec hosted the “Meet the Exceptional” Fundraising evening, which brought its community together around a common goal: supporting the training and well-being of dancers. Hosted by the dynamic Marie-Josée Gauvin, the evening highlighted the journeys, commitments, and accomplishments that are shaping today’s next generation of dancers.

The awards ceremony emerged as a highlight of the evening, showcasing contributions that promote dance beyond the stage.

The Prix de l’Exceptionnel was awarded to Florence Longpré and Guillaume Lonergan, respectively the screenwriter and director of the series Empathie. This distinction recognizes their ability to create a dialogue between ballet and another medium and to reveal its expressive power to a wide audience.

The 2026 Grand Distinction Award was presented to Pierre Goulet in recognition of his 17 years of dedication to the École supérieure and its Foundation. On this occasion, he also received the insignia of the Ludmilla Chiriaeff Heritage Circle, highlighting a career marked by constant support for the institution’s development, in keeping with the vision of its founder, Ludmilla Chiriaeff.

The event also served as an opportunity to award several scholarships designed to provide tangible support to graduating students as they enter the workforce.

• Scholarships from the Caisse Desjardins de la Culture, presented by David Lavoie, President
  Amount: $2,000
  Recipients: Léo Lussier and Ève Dupuis

• Distinction Award of the Institut national du sport du Québec – Emerging Artistic Performance, presented by François Bieuzen, Director of Sports Science
  Value: $5,000, including scientific support (physical, mental, sleep, etc.) to aid professional development.
  Winners: Alexane Dépelteau-Lacassagne and Clémence Lacasse

This tangible support plays a direct role in helping graduates continue their artistic careers by providing them with resources tailored to the industry’s demands.

The funds raised during the evening will contribute in particular to the Fund for Excellence – Anik Bissonnette, which supports the Danser en santé initiative, dedicated to students’ physical and mental well-being.
By bringing together partners, donors, and the artistic community, this benefit evening underscores the importance of a collective commitment to supporting the next generation of dancers, both artistically and personally.