Former Hatter Olivia Avinou was named recipient of the Jean Grande-Maitre Award, given each year to one student from the Alberta Ballet School.--Photo courtesy Sherry Avinou
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Given to only one dancer a year, Olivia Avinou has been given the Jean Grande-Maitre Award for ballet.
Born originally in Medicine Hat and attending Ross Glen School, River Heights School and then Crescent Heights High School, Avinou moved into Calgary after being invited into the professional program at Alberta Ballet School three years ago.
She was also a Limelitze dancer, and says many people, both in Medicine Hat and Calgary, have been instrumental in her success.
The award is chosen by Heather Edwards Foundation and Jean Grande-Maitre himself, the former artistic director of the Alberta Ballet Company, selected from a shortlist submitted by instructors at the school. Avinou formally received the award on stage only a few weeks ago, but the associated $20,000 scholarship was used for the 2024-2025 school year and some summer training.
“I was actually at our local theatre when I got the news; I was pulled aside by the artistic director of the school, she sat me down and told me that I had been chosen for this award. And I think honestly, sitting there, I was pretty close to tears,” said Avinou. “I was shocked, and then I was honoured, and then I just felt so grateful and, like, it’s truly so helpful to us.”
For Avinou, being a ballerina has been the dream since she was a child, and she says she’s not sure who she would be if not for her love of dance.
Her mother, Sherry Avinou, says while there have been sacrifices as a family to allow her to dance, they’re happy to do so and proud of how much effort her daughter has put in to have it all bear fruit.
“I remember a mock interview I did with my kindergarten teacher, and it said, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And I had responded that I wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy,” said Avinou. “So since I was five years old, and even before that, I knew that I always did want to be a ballerina.”
She’s been in training for four years, but says the training never truly ends for a ballerina, as you’re always trying to be better than you were the day before. Avinou said while it is hard work, it’s truly rewarding when she notices she can lift her leg a little higher, or execute a technique more smoothly than before, something she especially cherishes as she moves into auditions.
Now that Avinou is 18, she will be auditioning for different companies. While she hopes to stay with the Alberta Ballet company, she can and will be auditioning potentially worldwide to find the next part of her journey as a professional ballerina.
While she is nervous, she’s more excited and grateful than anything.
“It’s kind of like when I first got invited to the professional program. I was really happy and very proud of myself and thankful for my teacher for being able to help me get there,” said Avinou. “I think it was scary because going from like a smaller town to a big city, and all these factors, but it was also a dream to get to do it.”
She wants people to know that it truly all comes down to the coaches, and encourages those looking to pursue similar fields to find a good instructor and listen to them, and not be tempted to imitate what they see on social media.
“What my teachers like to say a lot is that Instagram is almost pushing an unreal type of ballet now. Everybody has their leg behind their head and they’re doing 20 turns and all of this stuff,” said Avinou. “But really, when people pay to come watch your ballet, it’s boring if you don’t engage with them, if you don’t ac. Teachers really can help you get technique and artistry into it.
“There is personal style that the dancer themselves can put into their work. But of course, when it comes to technique, someone needs to coach that into them.”
Avinou expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped to get her to where she is now, and hope for her future as a professional ballerina, wherever that may take her.
