Sasha Kleinplatz, BFA 04, is a prominent figure in the Canadian dance and choreography community. The contemporary dance and women's studies alumna was recently awarded the Prix Grands Sages Françoise Sullivan en arts, granted by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) and chief scientist of Quebec, Rémi Quirion.
The prize recognizes Kleinplatz's groundbreaking research project, Les restes: La méthode chorégraphique comme éphémère transférable (The Leftovers: Choreographic Method as Transferable Ephemera). It honours Kleinplatz's profound impact on the arts community and her commitment to advancing choreographic research.
This prize is named after Françoise Sullivan, a legendary Quebec artist and former Concordia professor (1977-2010), widely regarded as a foundational figure in Canadian and Quebec art history. Sullivan's contributions to visual art and performance continue to shape the cultural landscape, making the award even more significant for Kleinplatz.
Sasha Kleinplatz (far right) standing next to Françoise Sullivan, Quebec artist and former Concordia professor.
"I have so much gratitude and surprise at being awarded a prize in the name of Françoise Sullivan," she shares. "She is such an incredible artist, maker and thinker in the fields of visual art and performance. Meeting her was deeply inspiring and humbling. Her energy and intelligence are palpable and infectious."
Kleinplatz's research focuses on the intricate process of how choreographic practices are transferred from one artist to another.
"The Leftovers is focused on choreographic practice and how it is transferred from artist to artist," she explains. "The research is also an attempt to recuperate what is often lost or overlooked as valuable knowledge. I am moving between looking at how people share their expertise and how it is translated into new choreographic methods."
'Balancing transparency and the right to opacity'
The award underscores not only Kleinplatz's significant contributions to choreography but also her ongoing exploration of complex themes in her research.
"The main themes I am thinking through in my research at the moment are transparency and the right to opacity," she says. "I am attempting to balance wanting to honour and share the knowledge of practitioners, while also being thoughtful and rigorous around each creator's right to a practice that remains uniquely ambiguous."
She credits the support and guidance from the committee overseeing her research, including professors VK Preston, Angélique Wilkie and Erin Manning, for shaping this delicate balance in her approach.
Kleinplatz has a few exciting projects lined up. She will soon begin a research residency at Parbleux in Montreal, collaborating with artists from various disciplines related to Holocaust testimonials. The project will engage with themes like grief, trauma and survivorship, using testimonials as a source text to inspire choreography, writing and translation.
"These opportunities present exciting and humbling challenges that are invigorating for me in terms of research methods and understanding collaboration in transformative ways."
Find out more about Concordia's Department of Contemporary Dance.
