On June 15, 2021, the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation announced the recipients list for the 2021 Distinguished Artist Awards, which comprises a trio of powerful women including our very own Vicki Adams Willis alongside artist  Faye HeavyShield (Blood Reserve, Kainaiwa Nation, AB), and writer and filmmaker Cheryl Foggo (Calgary, AB). We offer our sincere congratulations to all of the recipients.

In the announcement , Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta refers to these three as “ground-breaking women who have offered important contributions to the arts in Canada.”

We couldn’t be more thrilled to see this honour bestowed upon DJD’s beloved co-founder Vicki Adams Willis. Anyone who has had any touchpoints with our company, whether it was through a class, a show, a school program, or as an artist developing their own skills and their relationship with jazz, they have felt the effects of Vicki Adams Willis. She has changed the face of jazz dance in Alberta and Canada and is one of the key players in making Calgary a viable dance centre for serious jazz artists.

Hats off to you Vicki for this well-deserved award!