May 2014 DANCE NEWSLETTER AUDC Senior Dancers in Pisa, Italy 1 Message from the Artistic Director: Dear Dancers, Parents and Friends: This year the Arts Umbrella Dance Program has achieved many benchmarks that are a reflection of the successes of the dancers in the program. In March the Arts Umbrella Senior Dance Company embarked on a seven city, two country, European Tour with 49 dancers, staff and chaperones. The success of the tour was secured even before we arrived in Europe: this project was fully funded by the collaborative effort of all the dancers and parents, and our donors, an achievement which is a testament to the tenacity and passion of all of the people who washed cars, made cookies, busked, and donated to this lifechanging event.
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE MAY 2014 Message from the Artistic Director, continued: While in Europe the company represented Arts Umbrella to great acclaim. Our work, and how we present it, received reinforcement and recognition and our dancers were applauded and encouraged. The highlight of the tour included a week in collaboration with the Nederlands Dans Theatre that culminated in a performance at Lucent Theatre with both NDT 1 and NDT 2. The dancers performed with a commitment and passion that garnered them a standing ovation in the theatre and recognition by some of the world s most accomplished dance artists. This event, no matter how impressive, was just part of the achievements of all of the dancers in every performance and workshop they participated in over the two weeks.. Of all the comments and compliments I received I would like to share this one with you: All 32 dancers, although at different ages and levels show the same integrity and level of professionalism that is hard to find today, even in professional companies. This, to me, was the greatest compliment as it speaks to the work that the whole school is doing and to the level we can all strive towards. We are excited to perform for this year s Season Finale to share with you our epiphanies and experiences on stage. Thank you to all of you for creating such an extraordinary place for our children to grow. Sincerely, Artemis Gordon Artemis Gordon Artistic Director Arts Umbrella Dance Photo: AUDC Senior Dancers in Italy 2
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE GRAD PROFILE such a creatively charged and committed place. Christoph has been offered a full Company Contract, with Ballet BC, for the 2014/15 season: I am absolutely thrilled to be able to dance with Ballet BC next season. The work they are doing is very exciting. After being on tour and seeing dance in Europe, it made me proud to be able to be part of work that is truly at an international standard here in Vancouver. Maya Tenzer and Christoph Von Riedemann Photo: Michael Slobodian After dancing for 11 years with Arts Umbrella, Paxton Ricketts has been offered a full company contract for two years with the Nederlands Dans Theater ll (NDT) in Den Haag, Netherlands. Congratulations to our Arts Umbrella Grad students, Maya Tenzer, Paxton Ricketts, and Christoph Von Riedemann. Maya has been offered an Apprentice Contract with Ballet BC for the 2014/15 season: I am excited and honoured to be working with Ballet BC next season. I feel blessed to begin my professional career in I am very excited, as well a nervous, to be moving to The Hague joining such a company. I have so much to learn. I hope to continue growing through this experience. We are very pleased for our Grads, and wish them much success in their careers in the professional dance world. 3
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHER PROFILE Fernando Hernando Magadan photo: Michael Slobodian Just over a year ago, I had the wonderful experience of working with the students of the Arts Umbrella Dance Company. My time there was nothing less than extraordinary. The dedication, focus and work ethic these students already have is remarkable, and it became the source of inspiration of the work we created This work is dedicated to the Arts Umbrella students and, in particular, to the people at Arts Umbrella for continuing to provide wings to all their young artists about to take off into a promising future. When the AUDC dancers were recently in Europe, they had the opportunity to work with many wonderful dancers and choreographers. One such choreographer is Fernando Hernando Magadan. Fernando is a Spanish dancer and choreographer who originally trained as a professional gymnast, becoming a National Champion. He joined the Nederlands Dans Theater ll in 2001, and was later nominated for Outstanding Male Artist in the Modern Dance category at the Critic s Circle National Dance Awards 2003. Fernando was invited to join the Nederlands Dans Theater l in 2004, where he worked with and performed works by renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Paul Lightfoot, Sol Leon, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Johan Inger and Crystal Pite, among others. Fernando was in Vancouver last year to work with our AUDC dancers and choreographed a piece he created specifically for them. The dancers and faculty loved meeting up with Fernando in Holland and were thrilled to perform his piece Take Off with NDT 1 as part of the Switch gala. Fernando s piece will be again performed by AUDC during Season Finale in May. To see more of Fernando s work visit: www.youtube.com/fernandomagadan www.vimeo.com/fernandomagadan 4
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE ALUMNI PROFILE 5 Graham Kaplan Graham began his formal training at Rachael Poirier s Danzmode Productions before joining the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon and Lynn Sheppard in 2011. While at Arts Umbrella, he participated in summer programs such as the Movement Invention Project and the Nederlands Dans Theatre Summer Intensive. Upon graduation, Graham immediately relocated to Montreal, receiving a contract with Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal. While touring across the world with BJM this year, he was offered a contract to join the Nederlands Dans Theatre 2, in Den Haag, Holland. Graham cannot wait to move to Europe to begin with NDT 2 in January 2015. Graham Kaplan photo: Michael Slobodian While travelling the world over the past year, I was constantly reminded of the amplitude to which Arts Umbrella changed my life. AU is a place I arrived at each day, ready to work, and was fortunate enough to receive only the most vital information to support a successful dance career. With the combination of Arty s passion and her unparalleled training, I was launched into an explorative environment, where anything was possible. Combining classical training, with the advances of modern science, physics, and anatomy, ballet was now a crossplatform medium which I was able to access from many angles. Aside from the training, the choreographic exposure not only allowed me to set my sights higher and higher, but gave me the opportunity to be seen and to network (whether I knew it or not) with working professionals. The fact that only a year has passed, since my time at Arts Umbrella, gives me much hope as to what the future will bring. Do not be discouraged by a lack of instant gratification, whether in the form of a job or not. Know that the training you have received is adequate for whatever you choose to pursue. Whether or not that includes dance, you are ready to take on the world and create your own success. Second years, I wish you the best and hope that you cherish the last months of this incredible family that is Arts Umbrella. While at Arts Umbrella, Graham performed works by Aszure Barton, Wen Wei Wang, Lesley Telford, James Kudelka, Fernando Hernando Magadan, Gioconda Barbuto, and Walter Matteini, and with BJM, he performed works by Cayetano Soto, Barak Marshall. Graham is incredibly grateful for all the support and mentorship he has received from his family, friends and teachers over the years, knowing that this could not have been possible without the belief of those around him. We are all proud of his accomplishments and wish him continued success in his future endeavours.
Photo: Michael Slobodian Be Moved Come to AUDC s Season Finale 2014 Arts Umbrella s Season Finale is an annual celebration of dance by some of the finest young dancers, collaborators, and choreographers in the world. Last month, the Arts Umbrella Dance Company (AUDC) performed before European packed houses to rave reviews and is now returning in Season Finale performances May 22-24 at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton). The AUDC s tour focused on the Netherlands and Italy with the work being hailed as world-class by European audiences. AUDC has built an international reputation for the excellence of its dancers and the unique and powerful choreography they perform. Season Finale is the chance to see the cutting edge work being done by our young dancers. Each year, world-renowned choreographers come to Vancouver to create pieces especially for the AUDC. Dancers will be performing works choreographed by Crystal Pite, Gioconda Barbuto, Lesley Telford, Fernando Hernando Magadan, Iratxe Ansa, Walter Matteini, and James Kudelka, all of whom normally work exclusively with professional dance companies. AUDC consists of more than 80 dancers - select members of the Arts Umbrella Professional Dance Program and Graduate Program - who train, rehearse, and perform to exacting professional standards in senior (ages 16-20) and apprentice (ages 12-16) ensembles. Season Finale will feature three evening performances (Thursday May 22, Friday May 23, Saturday May 24, 7:30 pm) and one matinee (Saturday May 24, 2 pm). These performances will be the last opportunity for local audiences to see a number of the dancers perform before they launch their international dance careers. Tickets for Season Finale will soon be available online at: www.artsumbrella.com/expressions 6
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE MAY 2014 Photo: David Cooper Important Dates To Remember May 20 Victoria Day STAT AU Closed May 22-24 AUDC Season Finale Vancouver Playhouse June 12-13, 15 Dance Recital Vancouver Playhouse June 16-18 Dance Registration for Returning Dance Students June 16-19 Make Up classes for Missed Dance Classes June 23 Dance Registration Opens for New Students June 23-27 Cecchetti Exams Week July 21-25 AU Junior Summer Dance Intensive 2014 July 28-31 AU Teen Summer Dance Intensive 2014 August 5-22 AU Summer Dance Intensive 2014 For a complete list of important dance dates, please refer to the Dance Calendar on our website at artsumbrella.com/programs/dance/calendar. It is frequently updated throughout the year, so plan to check it regularly. Also keep your eye on the Arts Umbrella Dance Facebook page: facebook.com/arts.umbrella.dance. 7
Arts Umbrella 2014 Dance Recital ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE MAY 2014 Thursday June 12, 2014, 7pm Friday June 13, 2014, 7pm Sunday June15, 2014, 7pm Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Come out and celebrate the accomplishments of our young dancers in the General and Professional Dance Program. The Recital Handbook has now been emailed out to our Arts Umbrella parents and contains important information about ticket prices, program order, rehearsal times, and DVD order forms. Please read it over carefully. If you have not received the Recital Handbook see the Arts Umbrella registration desk for a hard copy. Ticket Prices: Students and Seniors: $28 per person/adults: $32 per person *Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable. For safety reasons, only one person is allowed per seat in the theatre. Please see the Recital Handbook to assure that you purchase tickets for the correct performance date. If you have further questions, please contact: Tracy Wiens, Assistant, Dance, twiens@artsumbrella.com or 604-681-5268 (x263), Caroline Kirkpatrick, Production Assistant, ckirkpatrick@artsumbrella.com or 604-681-5268 (x232) Clare Cullen, Manager, Dance, ccullen@artsumbrella.com or (604) 681-5268 (x233) 8 Dance Recital Photo: David Cooper
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE MAY 2014 Photo: David Cooper Summer Dance Intensives Junior Summer Dance Intensive July 21---July 25, 2014 Ages 8-12 Minimum 1 year of dance experience required. No audition required. Location: Arts Umbrella Q7 77, East 7 th Avenue Schedule: 4 classes/day, 9:30am-3:45pm (45min lunch break) Monday-Friday This program is one of the few intensive summer programs for younger dancers. Featuring Ballet, Conditioning, Jazz, and Hip Hop classes with special guest instructors as well as Arts Umbrella faculty, the Junior Summer Dance Intensive is a comprehensive way to prepare for the classes in September. NEW: Teen Summer Dance Intensive July 28 -July 31, 2014 Ages 12 + Minimum 2 years of dance experience required. No audition required. Location: Arts Umbrella Granville Island 1286 Cartwright Street Schedule: 4 classes/day, 9:30am-4:00pm (45min lunch break) Monday-Thursday This four-day program is perfect for teenage dancers who are seeking a high level of dance instruction to develop and maintain dance ability they have acquired in a general Dance program. Featuring Ballet, Modern (Limon), CI-Training, Movement Exploration and Hip Hop classes with special guest instructors as well as Arts Umbrella faculty, the Teen Summer Dance Intensive will develop new skills, maintain fitness and flexibility, as well as provide an inspiring and fun dance experience. Teen SDI is a comprehensive way to prepare for classes in September. For more information about the Junior Summer Dance Intensive and Teen Summer Dance Intensive, contact Marilyn Seki at mseki@artsumbrella.com or 604.681.5268 x200. 9
ARTS UMBRELLA DANCE MAY 2014 Question? Contact the dance team: Arts Umbrella phone number: 604.681.5268 For all registration, bursary, SPARTS program, auditions, VCC-AU Dance Diploma and fee-related questions, please contact Registration Specialist, Marilyn Seki mseki@artsumbrella.com or ext. 200 For daily operations please contact the Dance Manager, Clare Cullen ccullen@artsumbrella.com or ext. 233 For any information pertaining to the General and Pre Professional Dance School contact General and Pre Professional Dance Program Liaison, Katrina Cruickshank kcruickshank@artsumbrella.com or ext. 261 For any information pertaining to upcoming performances and the AU Dance Company contact the Dance Coordinator, Tracy Wiens twiens@artsumbrella.com or ext. 263 10 photo: David Cooper
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