Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers
| Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Name | Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers |
| Year founded | 1964 |
| Founders | Rachel Browne |
| Principal venue | Rachel Browne Theatre |
| Website | winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca |
| Artistic staff | |
| Artistic Director | Jolene 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 many theatres, school and public places in Winnipeg[3] as well across Canada and the United States.
The company also creates avant-garde and expressionistic dance-theatre.
Creation[edit]
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 that year, CBC TV created a half hour program showcasing WCD's contributions and activities.[4]
It began to train dancers in 1972 when it created the School of Contemporary Dance. It included the Apprentice Program for local students who wished to join the company. In 1982-1983, the Apprentice Program transformed into the Senior Professional Program. In 1995, the School became its own legal entity.[5]
In circa 1983-1984, WCD was called Contemporary Dance Canada as it briefly sought an international mandate.
Dances[edit]
During its 60 years of continuous activity, dancers have performed over 500 new works. 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 and of course Rachel Browne.
WCD has collaborated with, and hosted, many national and international dance companies, including Fortier Danse Création (Montréal), EDAM (Vancouver), Companie FLAK (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. Delfos Danza Contemporánea[6] of Mazatlán, Mexico. Together, they invited Neo Labos Dance Theatre and KAATSBAAN International Dance Centre, 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.[7]
Rachel Browne also encouraged her dancers to choreograph for the WCD.[8] Her own original works that reflected her humanistic viewpoints.[1][9] She devoted 48 years to the company in various leadership roles until her death in 2012.[3]
Artistic Directors[edit]
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
External Links[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Holmberg, Arthur; Solorzano, Carlos (2014). World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Volume 2: The Americas. Vol. 2. Routledge. p. 640. ISBN 1136118365.
- ^ a b Crabbe, Michael; Botaitis, James (3 April 2015). "Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ a b Scene Staff (11 June 2012), Remembering Rachel Browne, founder of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 1 February 2016
- ^ 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) - ^ "History | SCD". Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Delfos Danza Contemporanea". Frontera Arts. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ From WCD Archives
- ^ Anderson, Carol (3 April 2015). "Rachel Browne". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ "Choreographic Works". Rachel Browne. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-18.