About
Édouard Lock (born March 3, 1954 in Morocco) is a Canadian dance choreographer and the founder of the Canadian dance group, La La La Human Steps.
Career
La La La Human Steps Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer Édouard Lock began his choreographic career at the age of 20 and founded La La La Human Steps in 1980. Over the years Mr. Lock has been invited to create works for some of the world’s leading dance companies, including the Paris Opera Ballet, the Het Nationale Ballet of Holland, The Nederlands Dans Theater, the Cullberg Ballet and the Royal Ballet of Flanders.
At the invitation of Robert Carson and the Paris Opera, Mr. Lock choreographed "Les Boréades” composed by Rameau and performed by his company LHS at Le Palais Garnier.
People and Collaborations
Édouard Lock has also worked with several figures in the world of music. He created a choreographed event with David Bowie and Louise Lecavalier as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, filmed by video artist Nam June Paik, then continued his collaboration with Bowie in 1990 as creator and art director of his Sound + Vision world tour. In 1992. he worked with Frank Zappa on the performance of Yellow Shark, alongside the Ensemble Modern, the Frankfurt Alte Oper, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Konzerthaus. He also commissioned works from and collaborated with Iggy Pop, Einstürzende Neubauten (Blixa Bargeld, Marc Chung, F. M. Einheit), Shellac of North America (Steve Albini), Skinny Puppy, My Bloody Valentine (Kevin Shields) David Van Tiegham, West India Company (Stephen Luscombe, Pandit Dinesh). He has also worked with American composer and Pulitzer Award winner David Lang for Salt (1997) and Amelia (2002) and with British composer Gavin Bryars, for 2, Amjad, and New Work.
DANCERS Lock has worked with include Bernardus Bartels, Marc Béland (1983-88), Andrea Boardman (2000-09), Pim Boonprakob, Amy Brogan, Diego F. Castro. Xuan Cheng, Carole Courtois, Yvonne Cutaran, Mi Deng, Michael Dolan, Talia Evtushenko (2007-13), Rick Gavin Tjia (1993-99), Monique Girard, Claude Godin (1983-87), Louis Guillemette (1980-84), Mirko Hecktor, Mistaya Hemingway (2000-10), Keir Knight (2000-10), Liza Kovacs, Ken Larson, Sarah Lawrey, Louise Lecavalier (1982-99), Jacqueline Lemieux, Manon Levac, Chun Hong Li, Francine Liboiron, Bernard Martin (2000-10), Miryam Moutillet(1980-1984), Sandra Mühlbauer, Marito Olsson- Forsberg, Grace Anne Powers, Fabien Prioville, Guillaume Pruneau, Lawrence Rabson, Rosa Royo, Alejandra Salamanca Lopez, Dominic Santia, Jason Shipley-Holmes (1998-2012), Stephanie Slater, William Lee Smith(2000-12), Naomi Stikeman (1997-00), Zofia Tujaka (1997-2012), Márcio Vinícius Paulino Silveira, Diana Vishneva, Donald Weikert (1987-97), Sarah Williams, Kai Zhang.
COMPOSERS Lock has worked with include David Bowie, Normand Pierre Bilodeau, Gavin Bryars, Yves Chamberland, Blake Hargreaves, Konrad Kinard, David Lang, Michel Lemieux, My Bloody Valentine (Kevin Shields), Einstürzende Neubauten (Blixa Bargeld, Marc Chung, F. M. Einheit) Iggy Pop, Shellac of North America (Steve Albini), Skinny Puppy, Rober Racine, David Van Tiegham, West India Company (Stephen Luscombe, Pandit Dinesh), Frank Zappa
MUSICIANS Frederike Bedard, Asha Bhosle, Denis Bonenfant, Alexandre Castonguay, Anne-Marie Cassidy, Jérôme Charles, Simon Claude, Jackie Gallant, Priya Khajuria, Kong Kie Njo, Michel Lemieux, Jean-Christophe Lizotte, Stephen Luscombe, Nadine Medawar, Jean-Claude Patry, Sylvain Provost, Robert Racine, Jennifer Thiessen, Ida Toninato
LIGHTING DESIGNERS Timothy Crack, Pyer Desrochers, Louis Douville, Noël Douville, Sylvie Galarneau, Robert Greene, Edouard Lock, Alain Lortie, Axel Morgenthale, John Munro, Peter Williams, Scott Windsor
COSTUME DESIGNERS Luc Dussault, Liz Vandal
SCENOGRAPHERS Louise Campeau, Louis Douville, Luc Dussault, Charles Fisch, Guy Lalande, Danielle Lévesque, Christian Rizzo, Stéphane Roy, Armand Vaillancourt
REHEARSAL DIRECTORS France Bruyère, Hua Fang Zhang, Shawn Hounsell, Reynald Rabu, Jean-Hughe Rochette
Places
Edouard Lock has worked across the world, including the following locations and venues
AUSTRALIA Adelaide (Her Majesty’s Theatre) Brisbane (Lyric Theatre, Queensland Perf. Arts Complex) Perth (His Majesty’s Theatre) Sydney (Everest Theatre)
AUSTRIA Bregenz (Festspielhaus) Innsbruck (Dogana Hall) Linz (Posthof) Salzbourg (Stadtkino, Perner-Insel, Szene Salzburg) Vienne (Wiener Secession, Volkstheater, Burgtheater, The Vienna Konzerthaus)
BELGIUM Anvers (deSingel) Bruges (Stadsschouwburg Brugge, Concertgebouw Brugge) Charleroi (Palais des beaux-arts) Gand (Vlaamse Opera) Hasselt (C.C. Hasselt) Liège (Festival du Jeune Théâtre) Louvain (Klapstuck) Mons (Salle du Téâtre Royal) Turnhout (C.C. de Warande)
BRAZIL Porto Alegre (Teatro do Sesi) Rio (Teatro Municipal) Sao Paulo (Teatro Municipal, Teatro Sergio Cardoso, Teatro Alfa)
CHINA Hong Kong (Academy for Performing Arts Lyric Theater)
CZECH REPUBLIC Prague (State Opera Prague)
DENMARK Copenhague (Musikteatret Albertslund)
FINLAND Helsinki (City Theatre)
FRANCE Angers (Théâtre municipal) Angoulème (Théâtre de Angoulème) Annecy (CAC de la Région ancienne, Bonlieu- Scène nationale) Bordeaux (Conservatoire national, Salle J. Thibaud, Théâtre National de Bordeaux) Caen (Théâtre de Caen) Cannes (Palais des Festivals) Châlon-sur Saône (Espace des Arts) Châlons-en- Champagne (Théâtre du Muselet, La Comète Scène Nationale) Clermont-Ferrand (La Comédie de Clermont Scène Nationale) Dijon (Le Duo, Auditorium de Dijon) Épinal (Parc des expositions) Frouard (Théâtre Gérard-Philippe) Tarbes (Le Parvis, Centre le Méridien) La Rochelle (La Coursive) Le Harve (Le Volcan) Lille (Salle du CAC) Lyon (Maison de la danse) Marseille (Théâtre du Merlan) Martigues (Théâtre des Salins) Metz (Théâtre de Metz) Montpellier (Opéra Berlioz, Le Corum) Mulhouse (La Filature) Narbonne (Scène Nationale de Narbonne) Nîmes (Théâtre Verdure) Ollioules (Centre de Châteauvallon) Paris (Centre Culturel Américain, Théâtre de la Bastille, Théâtre de Bobigny, Palais Garnier, Théâtre de la Ville) Rennes (Maison de la Culture) Rouen (Hangar 23, Théâtre des Arts, Opéra de Rouen/Haute Normandie) Saint-Étienne (Maison de la Culture, Grand Théâtre Massenet) Strasbourg (Le Maillon) Toulouse (Théâtre National de Toulouse)
CANADA Amos (Théâtre des Eskers) Banff (Banff Centre Theatre) Calgary (Dancers’ Studio West, Centre for the Perf. Arts, Performing Arts Center, Jubilee Auditorium) Chicoutimi (Auditorium Dufour) Edmonton (University of Alberta, Students’ Union Theatre, Sub Theatre, Jubilee Auditorium) Halifax (Rebecca Cohn Auditorium) Kingston (The Grand Theatre) Montréal (Théâtre de l’Eskabel, Musée d’art contemporain, Théâtre Conventum, The Rialto, The Spectrum, Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, The Maisonneuve and The Wilfrid- Pelletier of la Place des Arts) Lennoxville (Centennial Theatre) Ottawa (Centre National des Arts) Québec (Institut Canadien, Grand Théâtre) Red Deer (Red Deer College) Regina (Saskatchewan Centre) St. Catherines (Brock Centre for the Arts) Sept-Îles (Théâtre de Sept-Îles) Sherbrooke (Salle Maurice O’Bready) Toronto (Harbourfront (Brigantine Room), Premiere Dance Theatre, Danforth Music Hall Theatre, St. Lawrence Center, O’Keefe Center, Hummingbird Centre) Vancouver (Simon Fraser University, East Cultural Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, The Center for the Performing Arts) Winnipeg (Concert Hall)
GERMANY Berlin (Hebbel Theater, Komische Oper, Haus des Berliner Festpiele, The Philharmonie) Cologne (Schauspielhaus) Dortmund (Schauspielhaus) Dresde (Schauspielhaus) Düsseldorf (Opernhaus, Tanzhaus) Francfort (Alte Oper, Schauspiel Frankfurt, Opernhaus Fürth Stadttheater) Hambourg (Kampnagel) Hanovre (Theater am Aegi, Staatstheater Hannover) Helbronn (Heilbronn Theater) Karlsruhe (Kulturzentrum Tollhaus Karlsruhe) Kassel (Staatsstheaters Kassel) Leverkusen (Forum) Ludwigsburg (Theater im Forum) Ludwigshafen (Theater im Pfalzbau) Münich (Alabama-Halle, Deutsches Theater, Prinzregententheater) Neuss (Stadthalle) Oldenburg (Oldenburgisches Staatstheater) Remscheid (Theater der Stadt) Remscheid (Teo Otto Theater) Weimar (Deutsches Nationaltheater) Wuppertal (Opernhaus)
GREECE Athènes (Megaro Mousikis Athinon) Thessalonique (Macedonian Studies Theatre)
HUNGARY Budapest (Palace of Arts, Festival Theater) ISREAL Haifa (Haifa Auditorium, The Israeli Opera) Jerusalem (Herover Theatre) Tel Aviv (Cinerama, Performing Arts Center)
ITALY Ancona (Festival de Polverigi) Bari (Teatro Petruzelli) Ferrara (Teatro di Communale) Gênes (Teatro Gustavo Modena) Milan (Teatro dell’Elfo, Teatro di Porta Romana) Rome (Sistina, Teatro Argentina, Teatro Olimpico) Torino (Lavanderia a vapore) Turin (Teatro Regio)
JAPAN Aizu (Aizu Fuga-do Theater, Fukushima Prefecture) Chiga (Biwako Hall) Kochi (Kochi Prefecture Museum Hall) Oita (Oita Oasis 21) Otsu City (Shiga Biwako Hall) Saitama (Saitama Arts Theater) Tokyo (Orchard Hall)
LITHUANIA Vilnius (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre)
LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg (Grand Théâtre de la Ville)
MEXICO Mexico (Sala Miguel Covarrubias, Palacio Bella Artes)
NETHERLANDS Amersfoort (C. C. de Flint) Amsterdam (De MerrvarT, Stadsschouwburg, Het Muziektheater) Arnhem (Schouwburg) Dordrecht (Schouwburg Kustmin) Eindhoven (Stadsschouwburg) Enschede (Twentse Schouwburg) Gröningen (Martinihalcentrum, Stadsschouwburg) Maastricht (Theater aan het Vrijthof) La Haye (Lucent Danstheater) Leeuwarden (SSB De Harmonie) Rotterdam (Staadsschouwburg) Sittard (C.C. De Stadsschouwburg) Tilburg (Schouwburg Tilburg, Theaters Tilburg) Utrecht (Staadsschouwburg) Zoetermeer (Stadstheater) PORTUGAL Lisbonne (Centro cultural de Belém) Porto (Teatro Rivoli)
RUSSIA Moscou (Gorky Theatre, The Kermlin Palace) Saint-Pétersbourg (Alexandrinsky Theater)
SERBIA Belgrade (Sava Center)
SINGAPOUR Singapour (L’Esplanade, Singapore Arts Festival)
SLOVENIA Ljubljana (Cankarjev Dom, Linhart Hall)
SOUTH KOREA Séoul (LG Arts Center)
SPAIN Barcelone (Théâtre Grec, Mercat de les Flors) Bilbao (Arriaga Theatre) Madrid (Teatro de Madrid, Teatro del Canal) Séville (Teatro Italica, Teatro Central) Olite (Recinto Festivales) Valence (Parco de Riveros, Comédie de Valence) SWEDEN Stockholm (Dansens Hus) Göteborg (Stadsteatern) SWITZERLAND Bâle (Teater Basel) Berne (Dampfzentrale Berne) Genève (BFM) Neuchâtel (Théâtre du Passage) Zurich (Werfthalle, Theater 11)
UNITED KINGDOM Birmingham (Hippodrome) Bristol (Arnolfini Theatre) Édimbourg (Edinburgh Playhouse, Festival Theatre) Glasgow (King’s Theatre) Leicester (Phoenix Theatre) Leeds (Grand Theatre) Londres (Riverside Studios, Institute of Cont. Arts, Town & Country Club, Sadler’s Wells, Royalty Theatre) Manchester (Royal North Coll. of Music, Manchester Festival) Northampton (Derngate) Salford Lowry (The Lowry)
UNITED STATES Boston (Boston Shakespeare Theatre, Dance Umbrella) Chicago (The Chicago Music and Dance Theatre) Iowa City (Hancher Auditorium) Irvine (Irvine Barclay Theatre) Los Angeles (Royce Hall, Wiltern Theatre) Missoula (University of Montana) New-York (The Kitchen, The Performing Garage, Dance Theatre Workshop Bessie Schönberg Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music) Philadelphia (Kimmel Center) Pittsburgh (Benedum Center) Pullman (Washington State University), San Francisco (New Performance Gallery, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts) Santa Barbara (Granada Theater) Seattle (Washington Hall, Moore Theatre)
Other Activities
Various films have been made on Mr. Lock’s work including Le Petit Musée de Vélasquez directed by Bernar Hébert, and the documentary Inspirations by British director Michael Apted, which also included Roy Lichtenstein, Tadao Ando and David Bowie amongst others.
Recognition
His works have garnered many awards, including the Chalmers choreographic prize, the New York Dance and Performance Award, the Prix Denise-Pelletier, the National Arts Centre Award, the Benois de la Danse choreographic award given in Moscow, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Premio Positano Leonide Massine Award, The Molson Prize given by the Canada Council for the Arts and an honorary doctorate granted by the Université du Québec.
The film adaptation of Amelia, directed by Edouard Lock, had its American premiere at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival and its European premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film won its category at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Prague International Film Festival and the Rose d’Or Festival in Switzerland as well as winning two I.C.E. and two Gemini Awards for best direction and best editing.
Mr. Lock was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec and Officer of the Order of Canada
- 1982 : National Jean A. Chalmers Choreography Award (Oranges 1982)
- 1986 : Bessie Award (New-York)
- 2001 : Knight of the National Order of Quebec
- 2001 : Governor General's National Arts Centre Award
- 2001 : National Arts Centre Award
- 2001 : Jean A. Chalmers National Dance Award (Exaucé / Salt)
- 2002 : Prix Denise-Pelletier
- 2003 : Prix Benois de la Danse
- 2004 : Gemini Awards
- 2006 : Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- 2010 : Governor General's Performing Arts Award
- 2010 : Molson Prize
- 2010 : Officer of the Order of Canada
- 2010 : Doctor honoris causa, Université du Québec à Montréal
- 2011 : Prix Premio Positano Leonide Massine per la Danza
- 2012 : Prix du CALQ pour la meilleure tournée internationale
- 2015 : Le Grand Prix de la Danse (The Seasons 2015)
Works
- 1976 : Temps volé
- 1977 : La Maison de ma mère
- 1977 : Remous
- 1978 : Le Nageur
- 1980 : Lily Marlène dans la jungle, Western
- 1981 : Oranges ou la Recherche du paradis perdu
- 1983 : Businessman in the Process of Becoming an Angel
- 1985 : Human Sex
- 1987 : New Demons - La belle et la bête
- 1988 : Bread Dances for Het Nationale Ballet
- 1990 : Infante, c'est destroy
- 1995 : 2
- 1996 : Étude for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
- 1999 : Exaucé/Salt
- 2002 : Amelia, AndréAuria for Opéra national de Paris
- 2003 : Les Boréades for Opéra national de Paris
- 2007 : Amjad
- 2011 : Untitled/New Work/A Piece by Édouard Lock
- 2013 : The Seasons for São Paulo Companhia de Dança
- 2013 : 11th Floor for The Cullberg Ballet
- 2014 : Reprise AndréAuria for Opéra national de Paris
- 2014 : Creation for LA LA LA Human Steps contemporary arts - exhibition at the Boijmans Museum Rotterdam
- 2014 : Directed a film of The Boijmans Museum event