Call for Nominations: The Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant
February 9, 2026
The Hnatyshyn Foundation is now welcoming nominations for the 2026 Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant — a $10,000 grant awarded to an exceptional Canadian ballet dancer who is approaching the end of their training, and preparing to launch their professional career.
Nomination deadline: April 13, 2026
Jeremy Blanton with Joysanne Sidimus, by Amleto Lorenzini. Courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada.
About the Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant
The Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant, awarded annually, supports an exceptionally talented young dancer by bridging the gap between their full-time training and professional practice.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must be:
Entering, within one year following the nomination deadline, (A) the final or penultimate year of a full-time ballet program at a qualified Canadian post-secondary educational or training institution, (B) a full-time professional training program of one year or less, or (C) a full-time apprenticeship with a professional ballet company;
Canadian citizens or permanent Canadian residents (holders of study permits or temporary resident visas are not eligible);
Nominated by their institution;
At least 16 years of age at the time of the nomination deadline.
Who can submit a nomination
Canadian ballet schools and companies are invited to nominate exceptional emerging ballet students and apprentices entering or currently enrolled in a professional training program or apprenticeship that they will complete between 2026 and 2028 (depending on length of the program – see guidelines).
An institution may submit up to two candidates per year. We encourage institutions to consider candidates who express financial need and/or who identify as part of a group that is underrepresented in Canadian ballet. A panel of advisors appointed by the Foundation will adjudicate the performance work of the nominees. The recipient of the grant will be notified this summer and will receive the grant in the fall.
Nomination process
To nominate a candidate, please download and fill out the nomination form available on our website. The form must be submitted by email to director@rjhf.com along with a letter of nomination of one page. Eligible nominees will be invited via email to submit their documentation to SlideRoom once their nomination is received.
Before submitting a nomination, please consult the full guidelines for this program at the link below.
Guidelines & nomination form
2025 laureate: Melia Lin
Melia Lin is in her final year in the National Ballet School’s Ballet-Academic Program.
Courtesy of Melia Lin and Canada’s National Ballet School.
“As I begin my final year at Canada’s National Ballet School, this support will allow me to pursue auditions around the world for my dream ballet companies. This prize lifts the weight of financial worry and gives me the freedom to fully focus on my dancing and future career.”
2024 laureate: Alexander Stevens
Alexander Stevens was the inaugural laureate of this program.
Courtesy of Alexander Stevens.
“The Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant will allow me to focus on transitioning to a professional ballet career.”
About Joysanne Sidimus, M.S.M.
We are extremely proud to name this award after Joysanne Sidimus, one of Canada’s most esteemed ballerinas and a former board member of The Hnatyshyn Foundation.
Born in New York, Ms. Sidimus studied under George Balanchine at the School of American Ballet then joined his New York City Ballet. She later performed as a soloist with London’s Festival Ballet and as a Principal Dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada. She is co-founder of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre and was its Executive Director for twenty years. She is also the founding Vice President of the Artists’ Health Centre, a comprehensive health care facility for artists at Toronto Western Hospital. In 2003, she was awarded the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal and in 2006, she received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Dance – 2006).
Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic
Donor: Lynda Hamilton
We sincerely thank Lynda Hamilton for generously funding this award and suggesting we name it after her friend and colleague.
Ms. Hamilton has dedicated her career to supporting initiatives and institutions that offer artists support at various stages of their careers. She is co-founder of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre and founded the Valleyview Artist Retreat, offering free, week-long retreats for artists and arts administrators to find inspiration and respite. In 2021, she received the prestigious Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Volunteerism in the Arts.
Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic
