Allison Russell-Inspired ‘Eve Was Black’ 7-Person Ballet Added To 2024 Polaris Music Prize Gala At Massey Hall
The seven-person Allison Russell-inspired ballet Eve Was Black has been added to the 2024 Polaris Music Prize Gala winner reveal event, presented by CBC Music and taking place Tuesday, September 17 at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario.
Set to “Eve Was Black,” the same-named Grammy Award-winning song from Russell’s Polaris-nominated album The Returner, the dance has evolved to center, comfort and celebrate people of African descent, particularly women, whose skin tones, features, and sheer existence has been weaponized, victimized and devalued for hundreds of years. It is a call for reclaiming and collective reframing of the narrative associated with Black people and communities of color worldwide.
“Eve Was Black is an open letter to my abuser, but also to anyone suffering from the false ideology of white supremacy and other bigotries, whatever they may be. It’s also about how you can free yourself from that toxicity and way of thinking.” — Allison Russell
Eve Was Black was originally presented by the Nashville Ballet in association with the National Museum Of African American Music in 2021. The piece was choreographed by Caribbean Montrealer and Collage Dance’s artistic director Kevin Thomas and features music by Russell with support from SistaStrings. Nia Lyons from Collage Dance Collective will be performing the leading role at the Polaris Gala.
Thomas calls Eve Was Black “an opportunity to continue the healing process within ourselves and our community in a way that honors and liberates us through the visceral performing arts.”
The Returner, Russell’s album, is one of ten on this year’s Polaris Music Prize Short List, which honours the best Canadian music albums each year based on artistic merit. Other nominees include BAMBII, The Beaches, Charlotte Cardin, DijahSB, Jeremy Dutcher, Elisapie, Cindy Lee, NOBRO and TOBi.
This year’s winner will be revealed at the Polaris Gala, taking place September 17, 2024 at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario. The Gala will feature live musical performances from nominees Charlotte Cardin, Jeremy Dutcher, BAMBII, Elisapie, DijahSB, NOBRO, TOBi and a special performance by The Beaches lead vocalist Jordan Miller with Thunder Queens. Russell will be performing at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA with Hozier on September 17 and will be unable to attend the Polaris Gala.
Tickets to the Gala are available now via Massey Hall.
The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 courtesy of Slaight Family Foundation, going to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales.
ALBUM ELIGIBILITY
Albums eligible for 2024 Polaris Music Prize consideration must be released between April 1, 2023 and May 1, 2024. An independent jury of musical selectors from across Canada and the adjoining unceded Indigenous lands determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people from the larger jury pool are then chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. This Grand Jury then convenes to select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
POLARIS WINNERS
The past winners are Debby Friday (2023), Pierre Kwenders (2022), Cadence Weapon (2021), Backxwash (2020), Haviah Mighty (2019), Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007) and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE 2024 EVENT SEASON
June 11 – Long List Announcement: The Long List is where Polaris reveals the 40 nominated albums that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
July 11 – Short List Announcement: Selected from the 40 album Long List, the Short List is where Polaris reveals the 10 finalist albums that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
September 17 – Polaris Gala: Our prestige winner reveal event, the Polaris Gala features live musical performances from the nominated acts on the Polaris Short List. The Polaris Prize winner is determined by an 11-member Polaris Grand Jury selected from the greater Polaris juror pool.
October 17 – Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize: The Heritage Prize is a hall of fame-minded critics prize/public polling campaign meant to celebrate classic Canadian albums created before Polaris began in 2006. Like the Polaris Music Prize, winners and nominees of the Heritage Prize are albums of the highest artistic distinction, without regard to sales or affiliations.
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
