The 2025 recipient of the Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Administration (LMJH Award) is Adina Herling Davids. This is an annual award that honours the important contribution of all who work in theatre, dance and opera administration, and who have devoted a minimum of ten years to the performing arts, in addition to impacting the industry in Toronto.
Herling Davids’s co-nominators, Andrea Nann and Karen Kaeja, wrote: “Having worked closely with Adina for many years, we agree that she is a cornerstone of the Toronto arts community. Her dedication to supporting the dance community, her tireless efforts in helping countless artists and organizations, and her significant impact on the cultural landscape of Toronto are truly remarkable.”
Herling Davids’s management career is built on a strong foundation of dance knowledge, including a diploma from Ryerson University’s Dance Program and a BA in Dance from the University of Calgary. With over two decades of experience, her career includes 20 years as the General Manager for CanAsian Dance and 17 years with Fujiwara Dance Inventions, as well as roles with pounds per square inch performance, Dusk Dances, BoucharDanse, princess productions, adelheid dance projects, M-DO, Toronto Tabla Ensemble, and Company Erasga Dance (Vancouver).
Says Herling Davids: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award, and to be recognized for my contributions as an arts manager. Supporting dance artists and helping bring their artistic visions to life has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. I’m truly touched by this recognition and what it represents.”
Herling Davids’s protégé, Marketa Tokova, moved to Toronto from the Czech Republic in 2017. She has worked for the Toronto Polish Film Festival, Dusk Dances and Arzoo Dance Theatre. Currently, she works as the General Manager for BoucharDanse, IPP Coordinator for Fall for Dance North, and Interim General Manager for Kaeja d’Dance.