Fluid 2010 Workshops
Workshops
Please join us in these exciting workshops taught by two of the world’s leading dance companies. Classes only cost $12 each. The professional community is invited to take class at both DJD and the UofC.Workshops.
Registration is required and payment (cash or cheque) is due at the door, prior to the start of the workshop. For more information, or to register, please contact us at info@springboardperformance.ca
Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Contemporary Technique
Friday, October 22, 9:30 – 11:30AM at DJD
Friday, October 22, Noon – 1:30PM at the UofC, Auxiliary Gym
Instructors: Benoit-Swan Pouffer and Alexandra Damiani
BENOIT-SWAN POUFFER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, joined Cedar Lake as Artistic Director in 2005 following an extensive career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Born and raised in Paris, his career began with study at the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse where he performed works by such renowned French choreographers as Claude Brumachon, Daniel Larrieu and Angelin Preljocaj. In April 1993, Pouffer took first place in the Benetton European Dance Competition. Pouffer’s distinguished career as a professional dancer includes a 7-year tenure with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, seasons with Philadanco, Donald Byrd/The Group and Complexions, as well as offering outreach programs in South Africa and master classes throughout Europe.
Pouffer is credited with an astute and discerning eye for talented dancers, a vision toward artistic excellence and the viewpoint that performers with skilled technique united in works mingling various forms of dance can breathe new life into the art form. Through an informed network of colleagues and friends in the international ballet community, Pouffer eagerly searches out innovative choreographers around the world to invite to Cedar Lake. The New York Times recently stated, “Luckily Benoit-Swan Pouffer, the French-born artistic director of Cedar Lake, seems to have taken it on himself to introduce audiences to a new generation of European choreographers.” His role as curator of one of the most ambitious world-class repertoires in America today furthers Cedar Lake’s mission to provide choreographers a comprehensive environment for creation and presentation.
In 2005 Pouffer introduced and choreographed the first of his series of installation performances. Critically acclaimed and representing a new, less formalized approach to dance performance, Pouffer merges the audience with the dancer to become a collaborator in the performance. His original works for Cedar Lake include “Seed,” “Between Here and Now,” “Hammer,” “Vastav” and “Glassy Essence.”
ALEXANDRA DAMIANI, BALLET MASTER, a native of France, Damiani studied ballet at the Geneva Dance Center with David Allen before moving to Paris, where she trained with Attilio Labis from the Paris Opera School. While focusing on her ballet training, she played a supporting role in the French TV sitcom Pizzannexe. After winning the International Competition of Marseilles in 1995, Damiani was invited to dance with the stars of the Paris Opera Ballet in Budapest and was awarded a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, prompting her to move to New York.
She has been a soloist with Donald Byrd/The Group and a member of Complexions. She has also performed with the New York Theatre Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and the German dance company Unterwegs Theater, among others. She assisted Lynne Taylor Corbett in her creation for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
In 2003 she had the opportunity to join Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, where she performed featured roles in works by Crystal Pite, Mia Michaels, Shaun Hansell, Trey McIntyre and Grupo Corpo’s Artistic Director Rodrigo Perdeneiras. While in Canada she also had the opportunity to work with Victor Quijada from Rubberbandance Group. Alexandra has taught master classes in Europe and the United States. She has also served on the advisory board of New York Theatre Ballet since 2008.
Pilobolus Contact Improvisation & Partnering
Friday, September 17, 9:30 – 11:30AM at DJD
Friday, September 17, Noon – 1:30PM at the UofC, Auxiliary Gym
Instructors: Eriko Jimbo & Annika Sheaff
ERIKO JIMBO, Dancer, was born in Japan, raised all over the states, and earned her BFA in dance from NC School of the Arts. Since then she has been dancing professionally and broadening her dancing through aerial work, wushu, capoeira, hip hop, waacking, vogue, bboying, African, house, acrobatics and more. Also a NYC househead, she performs often and engages in events of the underground house and hip hop culture, reppin for two crews: MAWU and FMinit. Jimbo has traveled throughout the US, Japan, and Greece to perform and teach, and aspires to continue traveling all over the globe to share her passion. She officially joined Pilobolus in August 2009.
ANNIKA SHEAFF, Dancer, born and raised outside Chicago began dancing at The Academy of Movement and Music at age three. She continued her training at The Chicago Academy for the Arts and The Juilliard School, where she received her BFA in dance performance in 2006. She has performed works by Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, Ohad Naharin, Ron Brown and Lucas Crandell. Her choreography has been presented at The Duncan YMCA in Chicago, and the Peter J. Sharp and Clarke Studio Theaters in NY. She received the Juilliard Interarts Award for her arts education outreach work in NY, FL, and South Africa. She’s absolutely thrilled to be dancing with Pilobolus. She thanks her family and friends for their endless support; and Luke for his ability to light up her life.