Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers

Last updated
Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers
General information
NameWinnipeg's Contemporary Dancers
Year founded1964
Founders Rachel Browne
Principal venueRachel Browne Theatre
Websitewinnipegscontemporarydancers.ca
Artistic staff
Artistic DirectorJolene Bailie

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers is Canada's oldest continuously running modern dance company. [1] [2] Founded in 1964 as Contemporary Dancers Inc., it has presented original works of this new art form in thousands of theatres, school and public places in Winnipeg [3] as well across Canada, the United States and Mexico. In circa 1968, the WCD toured as far north as Inuvik and performed in conjunction with the Delta Drummers and Dancers in one of those communities. [4] [5]

Contents

The company also creates avant-garde and expressionistic dance-theatre.

Creation

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers was formed as a student group by former ballerina Rachel Browne. [2] By 1967, the company was touring extensively and received recognition as a fully professional dance group. It began to receive Canada Council grants in 1969. In February of that year, CBC TV created a half hour program showcasing WCD's contributions and activities. [6]

It began to train dancers in 1972 when it created the Apprentice Program for local students who wished to join the company. This was followed in 1973 by the foundation of the School of Contemporary Dance that had a general interest school as well as a program dedicated to aspiring professionals. [7] In 1982-1983, the Apprentice Program transformed into the Senior Professional Program. In 1995, the School became its own legal entity. [8]

In circa 1983-1984, WCD was called Contemporary Dance Canada as it briefly sought an international mandate. [9]

In 1984, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the WCD established the Festival of Canadian Modern Dance. It ran annually between 1985 and 1992. [10] The company regularly performed at Ottawa’s Canada Dance Festival as well.

Dances

During its 60 years of continuous activity, dancers have performed over 500 new works. [11] These included dances by American choreographers like James Waring and Dan Wagoner as well as by innovative Canadian choreographers like Nenad Lhotka, Jennifer Wootton Mascall, Linda Rabin, Margie Gillis, Santee Smith, Ruth Cansfield [12] and of course Rachel Browne.

WCD has collaborated with, and hosted, many national and international dance companies, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Fortier Danse Création [13] (Montréal), EDAM [14] (Vancouver), Companie FLAK [15] (Montréal) and many others.

In 1999, WCD initiated The Pan-American New Creation Partnership along with The Pan American Musical Art Research Inc. to accompany the Pan American Games. The project merged dancers from three modern dance companies and included creative residencies. The primary partner was Delfos Danza Contemporánea [16] of Mazatlán, Mexico. Together, they invited Neo Labos Dance Theatre and KAATSBAAN International Dance Centre, [17] both of New York. This five-year partnership produced many new works including in 2001: Trio and String by Claudia Lavista/Victor Manuel Ruiz, Cariatyd by Ruiz, The Banquet by Ruiz, Lost Territories by Lavista, About love and other calamities by Ruiz as well as El Río by Tom Stroud. [18]

Rachel Browne also encouraged her dancers, among whom was Stephanie Ballard, to choreograph for the WCD. [19] Her own original works reflected her humanistic viewpoints. [1] [20] She devoted 48 years to the company in various leadership roles until her death in 2012. [3]

Artistic Directors

1964-1983 Rachel Browne

1983-1984 Bill Evans

1984-1990 Tedd Robinson

1990-1991 Charles Moulton

1991-2005 Tom Stroud

2005-2017 Brent Lott

2019- Jolene Bailie

Notes

  1. 1 2 Holmberg, Arthur; Solorzano, Carlos (2014). World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Volume 2: The Americas. Vol. 2. Routledge. p. 640. ISBN   1136118365.
  2. 1 2 Crabbe, Michael; Botaitis, James (3 April 2015). "Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Scene Staff (11 June 2012), Remembering Rachel Browne, founder of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 1 February 2016
  4. ↑ GetWellSoonBitchez (2008-10-05). Delta Drummers and Dancers of Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik and Aklavik, NT . Retrieved 2024-06-30– via YouTube.
  5. ↑ Anderson, Carol (1999). Rachel Browne : dancing toward the light. Internet Archive. [Winnipeg] : J. Gordon Shillingford. ISBN   978-1-896239-53-8.
  6. ↑ Anonymous (2004). a body of work: Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers 40th Anniversary 1964-2004. Winnipeg: Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers. p. 2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ↑ Anderson, Carol (1999). Rachel Browne : dancing toward the light. Internet Archive. [Winnipeg] : J. Gordon Shillingford. ISBN   978-1-896239-53-8.
  8. ↑ "History | SCD" . Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  9. ↑ "Archives of Manitoba | Keystone Archives Descriptive Database". pam.minisisinc.com. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  10. ↑ Anderson, Carol (1999). Rachel Browne : dancing toward the light. Internet Archive. [Winnipeg] : J. Gordon Shillingford. ISBN   978-1-896239-53-8.
  11. ↑ "Archives of Manitoba | Keystone Archives Descriptive Database". pam.minisisinc.com. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  12. ↑ "Core Faculty Biographies | SCD" . Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  13. ↑ "Fortier Danse Création". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  14. ↑ "EDAM". EDAM. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  15. ↑ "Accueil | José Navas Compagnie Flak". 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  16. ↑ "Delfos Danza Contemporanea". Frontera Arts. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  17. ↑ "Kaatsbaan International Dance Center". www.kaatsbaan.com. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  18. ↑ From WCD Archives
  19. ↑ Anderson, Carol (3 April 2015). "Rachel Browne". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  20. ↑ "Choreographic Works". Rachel Browne. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-18.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inuvik</span> Arctic town in the Northwest Territories, Canada

Inuvik is the only town in the Inuvik Region, and the third largest community in Canada's Northwest Territories. Located in what is sometimes called the Beaufort Delta Region, it serves as its administrative and service centre and is home to federal, territorial, and Indigenous government offices, along with the regional hospital and airport.

The National Ballet of Canada is a Canadian ballet company that was founded in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario, with Celia Franca, the first artistic director. A company of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, the National Ballet has been led since 2022 by artistic director Hope Muir. Renowned for its diverse repertoire, the company performs traditional full-length classics, embraces contemporary work and encourages the creation of new ballets, as well as the development of Canadian dancers and choreographers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Winnipeg Ballet</span> Canadian ballet company

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal (GBCM) is a ballet company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A creative and repertory company, it performs works that reflect the diverse trends of contemporary ballet.

Evelyn Anne Hart is a Canadian ballerina and former principal dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance in Canada</span>

A large variety of dance companies exist in Canada, encompassing a wide tradition of dances that represent both its many indigenous cultures, as well as that of its European-descended population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie Theatre Exchange</span> Theatre venue in Winnipeg, Canada

Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) is a professional theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the third floor of Portage Place mall in downtown Winnipeg. By the end of the 2016–17 season, PTE had presented 340 plays on its thrust stage over its 44-year history, 149 of which were world premieres, to an annual average attendance of 35,000 people.

Barbara Bourget is a dancer, choreographer and the artistic director of Kokoro Dance Theatre Society in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is known for her butoh performances and choreography. Her work has been described as difficult, punishing and uncompromising. She was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia in 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne McGregor</span> British choreographer and director (born 1970)

Sir Wayne McGregor, CBE is a British choreographer and director who has won multiple awards. He is the Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet. McGregor was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 2011 for Services to Dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Evans (dancer)</span>

James William Evans or Bill Evans is an American choreographer, performer, teacher, administrator, writer and movement analyst. More than 250 of Evans' works have been performed by professional and pre-professional ballet, modern dance and tap dance companies throughout the United States, including his own Bill Evans Dance Company, Ruth Page Chicago Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and many other companies. [multiple citations needed] He may also have created works for companies in Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.[multiple citations needed]

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Astman</span> Canadian artist (born 1950)

Barbara Anne Astman is a Canadian artist who has recruited instant camera technology, colour xerography, and digital scanners to explore her inner thoughts.

The Toronto Dance Theatre is a Canadian modern dance company based in Toronto, Ontario. Described by The Canadian Encyclopedia as "one of the foremost modern-dance companies in Canada", the company tours nationally and internationally and regularly performs at the Harbourfront Centre and Winchester Street Theatre in Toronto. The company currently consists of nine dancers and two dance interns in addition to other artistic staff. The ensemble has been led by Artistic Director Christopher House since 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norbert Vesak</span>

Norbert Vesak, one of Canada's leading choreographers in the 1970s, was a ballet dancer, choreographer, theatrical director, master teacher, dance columnist, lecturer, and opera ballet director, known for his unique, flamboyant style and his multimedia approach to classical and contemporary choreography. He is credited with helping to bring modern dance to Western Canada.

Alvin Erasga Tolentino is a Filipino Canadian choreographer and dance artist, and the founding Artistic Director of Vancouver, British Columbia's Co.ERASGA Dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Anderson (dancer)</span> Canadian ballet dancer and choreographer

Darren John Anderson is an internationally acclaimed ballet dancer. He is also known for his work in contemporary and classical choreography.

Rachel Browne was a dancer, teacher and choreographer based in Winnipeg. In 1964, she founded Canada's longest running modern dance company, Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martine van Hamel</span> Dutch choreographer, teacher (born 1945)

Martine van Hamel is a Dutch choreographer, director, teacher, retired ballerina and former Principal dancer at the National Ballet of Canada and American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She was a gold medalist at the biennial Varna International Ballet Competition, the most prestigious ballet competition in the world, held in Varna, Bulgaria. She is also a recipient of the Prix de Varna, a recognition rarely awarded, for best artistic interpretation in all categories. She was one of the leading classical ballerinas in America.

Sarasvàti Productions, often stylized Sarasvati Productions, was a Canadian feminist theatre company. Sarasvati hosts several annual events including the International Women's Week Cabaret of Monologues, One Night Stand, and FemFest.

Andrea Nann is a Canadian dancer, choreographer, dance educator, and artistic director. Born in Vancouver, she became interested in exploring and expressing human emotions through dance from a young age. Nann trained with several prominent Canadian dance artists, most notably Danny Grossman.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.