Allen Kaeja
Allen Kaeja is an internationally recognized and award-winning Choreographer and Dance Film Director. As the child of a refugee, Allen has dedicated more than three decades to Holocaust-inspired art, with 210 stage works and 38 films, choreographed and/or directed. Co-Artistic Director of Kaeja d’Dance with Karen Kaeja, Allen’s Kaeja Elevations and works have been featured in commercials, films and festivals around the world. He has received numerous national and international commissions, teaches Kaeja Elevations and Dance Film master classes worldwide. He has been on faculty at TMU since 2002. Allen and Karen received the Lifetime Achievement Award and was recently nominated for the Eldred Family Dance Award. He continues to tour, with Karen, their lifeDUETs program throughout the world. Allen is completing his 39th dance film and re-imagining his internationally touring Resistance-142466 for 2027.
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2026 NOMINATION – Eldred Family Dance Award - Ontario Arts Foundation - recognizes exceptional achievement and creative ability in dance by an established Ontario choreographer
2026 WINNER – Ross and Don McLean Memorial Award-Featured in documentary on my family’s experience in the Holocaust
2026 INCLUDED in Canada’s new Collection Regards Hybride - Zummel
2023 NOMINATION – Eldred Family Dance Award - Ontario Arts Foundation - recognizes exceptional achievement and creative ability in dance by an established Ontario choreographer
2023 INCLUDED in Canada’s new Collection Regards Hybride - Zummel
2020 FINALIST: Celebration of Cultural Life Award: Toronto Arts Foundation with Karen Kaeja – Canada
2019 WINNER - Lifetime Achieve Award: Dance Ontario with Karen Kaeja – Canada
SHORT LISTED Jury Prize: XTOD: Moments in Reel Time; Best film over 15 minutes – IMZ, Europe
2017 WINNER – Partnership Appreciation - TDSB – 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017
2016 WINNER – Kathryn Ash Choreography Award
2015 NOMINATION - Ontario Arts Foundation Artist Educator Award
NOMINATION – Now Magazine’s Best Toronto Dance Company
2013 & 2010 FINALIST - TD Arts Diversity Award with Karen Kaeja 2013 and 2010
2012 WINNER - CDA COMMUNITY Award for Karen Kaeja (concept) and Allen Kaeja (developed with) for Porch View Dances
WINNER - BEST DANCE 2012 Globe and Mail
FINALIST - CDA INNOVATION Award to Allen Kaeja for the Kaeja Elevations development
2011 WINNER - Gemini-Best Picture Nureyev - Principal Performer; Director: Moze Mossanen
NOMINATED-BEST CHOREOGRAPHERS NOW Mag for Karen and Allen Kaeja
2009 TOP TEN: Now Magazine’s choice for Luminato: Allen and Mika Kaeja
NOMINATED-Jury Prize, Dance on Screen Award, New York – Allen Kaeja
2008 SHORTLISTED Best Short Film, IDN Barcelona, Chosen for the VANOC 2008 Cultural Olympiad
2006 SHORTLISTED Special Jury Prize, Banff World Television Award (Asylum of Spoons-Top 6 of 1,000 films worldwide submitted)
NOMINATED-Asylum - for the Banff World Television Award - Best Performance Program
NOMINATED-Playback Magazine – Asylum - Best Canadian Film
2004 NOMINATED- Canadian ScreenAwards (formerly Gemini) - Best Direction of Performing Arts Program or Series.
NOMINATED-for Outstanding Choreography: American Choreography Awards - Departure
2002 WINNER-Paul D. Fleck Fellowship Award, Innovation in Choreography, Banff Centre for the Arts
CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION, American Dance Festival, Resistance film
2000 SPECIAL JURY AWARD: Rework for the Camera, Zummel, Dance Screen ’00, Monaco [IMZ]
WINNER-Moving Pictures Award for Best Performance, Zummel,
UNESCO CITATION for the year of Culture and Peace – Resistance stage
1999 WINNER-Clifford E. Lee Award, Banff Centre for the Arts
SPECIAL JURY MENTION: Rework for the Camera, Witnessed, Dance Screen ’99, Austria [IMZ]
1997 WINNER-Bonnie Bird Choreography Award London, England
1996 WINNER – Chalmers Award with Karen Kaeja to study with Steve Paxton and Lisa Nelson
1996 WINNER - K. M. Hunter Choreography Award