Contemporary Technique
My technique classes have grown from the three primary influences: the ballet based modern technique of Peter Boneham, which was my formation; the Mitzvah Technique as practiced by dancer and teacher Amelia Itcush and the high performance coaching methods of world champion gold medalist Shauna Romano. The Mitzvah Technique develops groundedness, fluidity and expansiveness, and Ms. Romano’s methods enhance centeredness and power. Together with the rigor of traditional training these additional techniques enable me to achieve positive results with contemporary dance students.
Composition and Choreography
Early influences in my creative development include training in improvisation and the creative process with Richard Bull at the Institute for Movement Exploration in Connecticut, and dancing for over 20 choreographers at Le Groupe de la Place Royale between 1980 and 1990. I was a founding member of Le Groupe Dance Lab in 1987 and I created dance works with Peter Boneham, Paul-Andre Fortier, Tedd Robinson and Grant Strate as my choreographic mentors.
In my choreography courses I work to introduce students to the creative process through an approach that combines attention to practical ability in the elements of dance making and to the development of the individual student’s awareness, sensitivity and critical facility.
Philosophy
Whether in movement or performance, in improvisation or choreography I aim to demystify technique through a direct approach to knowledge. I encourage change and consistent application. I bring my choreographer’s sensibility to class, creating movement and coaching dancers. I hope to appeal to the artists in my students by placing high expectations on them, as I do on myself.
Fundamental Concepts
Unity: the unified function of what are commonly thought of as opposites. For example, the mind makes the dancer / articulate in thought, articulate in action / what is up, is down / the finest control is the most desired freedom / shape is action/ to shape one must be able to let shape go / the body frees the legs / expansion is relative to centre / you are your body, you are not your body / respect the rules, the rules can be broken / listen to what disturbs.
Awareness: the key to growth. For example, what is not in your awareness is working against you / recognize the function of habit in life / cultivate the ability to change / cultivate responsibility / cultivate resourcefulness / cultivate openness / conscious application of clarity, precision and efficiency / synthesis of stimulations and harmony of expression.
Energy: all exchanges, all expressions are essentially energetic in form. Dance is the expressive management of energy/ energy is all of shape, flow and direction / cultivate the energetic continuum / energy is expansion / energy is communication between teachers, students, accompanists, between the form of expression and the individual.
Wave: key operative symbol. Wave as motion, direction, flow, articulation / as self -perpetuation, continuation / wave as balance / wave as learning curve / wave as change / as a binding universal force / wave as gravity and levity in the body / wave, as in there is no finally, we never arrive.
