MORNING SESSIONS DTRC Welcome & Intro Get Moving! Dance Ice Breaker Finding Your Feet: Landing the Work That Builds The Career (Panel) Networking Lunch & Community Fair

GET MOVING! DANCE ICE BREAKER

KESSEKE YEO (KISS OF AFRICA) For Kesseke dance is like a medicine. He started dancing at 7 years and at 11 he went to the Ivory Coast National Ballet and was there for several years dancing locally and touring around Africa and Europe. He also danced for Yelemba d`Abidjan and Ballet Djolem d’Abidjan, la Companie de Wouafou de Abidjan. In 2001 he moved to Vancouver and currently dances for Masabo Culture Company and his own group West meets West. He also teaches West African dance in various dance studios in Vancouver.

FINDING YOUR FEET: LANDING THE WORK THAT BUILDS THE CAREER (PANEL)

MEREDITH KALAMAN (MODERATOR) Meredith Kalaman is a Choreographer and Performer from Vancouver, Canada. Meredith has danced for the Karen Jamieson Dance Company, Dancers Dancing, Judith Marcuse Projects and Movent and performed works by Noam Gagnon, John Ottmann, Kate Franklin, Farley Johansson, Michael Kong, Julie Lebel and Kirsten Wiren. She is a graduate of the Ballet BC Mentor Program. Her own choreography has toured Canada, the US and throughout China. Meredith is a recipient of the Chrystal Dance Prize from Dance Victoria. Her first full length work, Femme Fatales will premiere in May 2017 at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby, Canada and also travel to Berlin in August. www.meredithkalaman.com

KIERA HILL (BALLET BC/BALLET JAZZ DE MONTREAL) Born in Vancouver, Kiera Hill has been performing internationally Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal since 2013. She has performed leading roles in works by Andonis Foniadakis Barak Marshall, Cayetano Soto, Itzik Galili, Rodrigo Pederneiras and Wen Wei Wang. Kiera began her formal dance training at Arts Umbrella under the direction of Artemis Gordon. As a member of the Arts Umbrella Dance Company, she performed works by James Kudelka, Emily Molnar, Aszure Barton and Lesley Telford among others. In 2011 she was a proud recipient of the British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship for excellence in dance. Kiera apprenticed with Ballet BC in 2012/2013. Now living in Montreal, Kiera also works with other artists as a freelance dancer in film, music and dance projects during her time off from BJM. FINDING YOUR FEET cont...

GRAHAM KAPLAN (NETHERLANDS DANS THEATRE) Born in Vancouver, Canada, Graham completed his professional training through Arts Umbrella’s Graduate Program. He joined Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal in 2013, lead by Louis Robitaille. During his time with BJM, he performed works by Barak Marshall, Andonis Foniadakis, Cayetano Soto, Rodrigo Pederneiras and Wen Wei Wang. In 2015, Graham was invited to dance with the Nederlands Dans Theater 2, directed by Paul Lightfoot. He created and performed works by choreographers Alexander Ekman, Sol Leon/Paul Lightfoot, Johan Inger, Edward Clug, Marne and Imre van Opstal, and others. As a choreographer, he has created works for the company’s annual choreographic workshop, Switch. He currently resides in Vancouver as a freelance artist, creator, and teacher.

AKEISHA DE BAAT (WAREHAUS DANCE COLLECTIVE) Born and raised in the Lower Mainland of B.C, Akeisha trained at a small studio in Mission, developing a love for Ballet and the early modern techniques. After completing a semester at The Ailey School in New York City in 2008, she was driven to see where dance and movement could take her. In 2014 she graduated with her BFA from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and shortly after co-founded WAREHAUS dance collective. As a contemporary artist, Akeisha continues enhance her craft by educating her mind and body through workshops and classes at home, in Vancouver, and abroad. Over the past year, she has developed a keen interest in Coutnertechnique and recently traveled to Australia to gain more knowledge and insight in the teachings. Along with creating works for WAREHAUS, Akeisha has worked as an assistant to Dutch choreographer, Joeri Dubbe, at the Korzo Theatre in partnership with The Netherlands Danse Theatre. She has had the pleasure of presenting and performing work through Dance Allsorts, Small Stage, 12 Minutes Max, Cascadia Film Festival, and To. Be. Announced; and performed works by Vanessa Goodman, Paras Terezakis, Lovers Cabaret, Dezza Dance, and Valence Movement over the years.

TESSA TAMURA (DA COSTA TALENT) Tessa moved to Vancouver with a determination to pursue a dance career and 14 years of dance training under her belt; Including completing high levels of exams in Ballet (RAD), Tap (Al Gilbert) and Jazz (ADAPT). In Vancouver, she delved further into urban dance styles with The Source Dance Company, KTL and Lux Dance Company. On the commercial side of the dance industry, Tessa has had the opportunity to work with amazing choreographers in productions such at “Ragz” (Nickelodeon), “Jinxed”(Nickelodeon), and “The Descendants” (Disney). She has appeared in music videos for recording artists such as Nelly Furtado and Marianas Trench, as well as, live performances -including Dancing on the Edge with the Response/Amber Funk Barton and the Vancouver International Dance Festival with The Source Dance Company. Tessa has become a very versatile dancer, performer and teacher and is incredibly thankful for her dance adventures on the west coast.

NETWORKING LUNCH & COMMUNITY FAIR

Exciting career contacts are coming just to meet you over lunch! See “Community Fair” and find your“Community Fair Passport” list for details.... Your big chance to WORK THE ROOM! Lunch is provided to particpants who pre- registered on our website before the deadline (please check your name tag or ask us if you’re unsure).

AFTERNOON SESSIONS PRESENTING YOURSELF PROFESSPresenting Yourself Professionally (PANEL) Building Resilience for Dance Performance (Workshop)

PRESENTING YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY (PANEL)

KRISTINA LEMIEUX (MODERATOR) Kristina Lemieux is an accomplished arts administrator with more than 18 years of experience, and contemporary dancer. A recent transplant to Toronto, Kristina is the Executive Director of Generator. Over the past decade, she has worked with many of the Vancouver’s art organizations: Arts Umbrella, New Works, Out On Screen (Queer Film Festival), Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration, Playwrights Theatre Centre, Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists/West Chapter (CADA/West), Tara Cheyenne Performance, Theatre Replacement, Progress Lab 1422 (a project of Vancouver Creative Space Society), Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF) and Vancouver Art Gallery. Kristina is the Artistic Producer for Brief Encounters, a production company that supports, enhances, and amplifies the work of interdisciplinary artists. Recently, she launched The Scaffold, a consulting, administration and skill development service designed to support performing artists and groups. She serves on the Board of Directors for 110 Arts Cooperative (The Post at 750), Up in the Air Theatre (rEvolver Festival), and Music on Main. Kristina holds a certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement, has founded a series on audience engagement and citizenship and is co-founder of Polymer Dance. http://kristinalemieux.com/ PRESENTING YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY (CONT...)

NATASHA GORRIE (URBAN/COMMERCIAL) Natasha Gorrie grew up in the hip hop dance scene. At the age of 8, she began training at her mother’s dance studio -a studio which pioneered hip hop choreography in Vancouver’s lower mainland. Natasha has managed to excel in the professional dance industry, while building a well known and respected reputation in the underground dance community across Canada, and around the world. Her professional credits include She’s The Man, Another Cinderella Story, Hellcats, The Magicians and So YouThink You Can Dance Canada, music videos for DJ Tiesto and Lady Sovereign, as well as, commercials for Campbell’s Soup, Reebok and Nestle Water. Natasha is co-founder of the powerhouse female crew “Diamonds In The Rough” based out of Vancouver. As a group, they have travelled, performed and trained throughout the USA and Canada.

TIFFANY BILODEAU (BALLET) Tiffany Johns has been in constant motion since the day she was born. Her parents put her in ballet at the age of 3 and from there she went on to graduate from the School. She danced professionally with Ballet Kelowna, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Festival Dance in Banff before retiring in 2012. Tiffany is a certified Pilates Instructor and Physiotherapy Assistant and is working full time at The Movement Studio and Envision Physiotherapy in Vancouver. Her specialties are in movement education for professional dancers and athletes as well as pre- and post-partum women. Tiffany is currently finishing up her Kinesiology degree at UBC and is planning on pursuing her Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy in the future. She continues to stay in motion, riding bikes, running and keeping up with her 6-month old daughter.

JOSH MARTIN - CONTEMPORARY Originally from Alberta, Josh Martin is a diversely trained dance artist with a career-to-date that has led him across North America and Europe, studying and performing in many genres along the way. Josh primarily works as Artistic Co- Director of Company 605, a Vancouver-based arts organization creating and producing new dance works through a collaborative process, regularly touring throughout Canada and Internationally. As a performer and collaborator, he has also worked with many other dance companies and independent choreographers such as Amber Funk Barton (the response.), Martha Carter, Gail Lotenberg, Day Helesic, Karen Jamieson, Helen Walkley, Dana Gingras, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Tiffany Tregarthen and David Raymond (Out Innerspace Dance Theatre), Vanessa Goodman (The Contingency Plan / Action at a Distance), Wen Wei Wang (Wen Wei Dance), and as a past company member of Le Groupe Dance Lab in Ottawa under the direction of Peter Boneham. His solo work has been presented in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Moncton, Portland, Seattle, throughout Germany (Winning 1st Prize for Choreography at the Internatonal SoloTanz Festival in Stuttgart), and as part of the National Arts Centre’s 2014/15 Season in Ottawa. Off the stage, he serves as Vice-Chair of The Dance Centre’s Board of Directors and Chair of its Artistic Advisory Committee, and is Past-Chair of CADA/ West. Josh was the recipient of Vancouver’s 2013 Mayor’s Arts Award - Emerging Dance Category. www. company605.ca PRESENTING YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY (CONT...)

LAURA MURRAY (PR)

Recognizing the need for a full-service marketing and communications agency dedicated exclusively to supporting the arts + culture sector in Vancouver, Laura launched MPMG in 2011. As the Principal and Founding Partner of MPMG, Laura has built a company founded on the passion, creativity, and integrity that define the artistic process. A dancer and journalist by training, Laura brings the strength and discipline of dance to her leadership with the insight + exactitude of reporting to all her work. This potent combination has earned MPMG numerous accolades and awards for its innovative marketing and communications services. Laura has served such prestigious dance clients as Ballet BC, The National Arts Centre, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Vancouver International Dance Festival, among others. Most recently, Laura was recognized as a 2016 Business in Vancouver ‘Forty Under 40’ winner, acknowledging the city’s most successful entrepreneurs under the age of 40 and the ones to watch. In addition to leading MPMG, Laura has provided arts commentary and reviews for the Vancouver Sun, Georgia Straight, Dance International Magazine, and 24 Hours. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Made in BC: Dance on Tour.

BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR DANCE PERFORMANCE (WORKSHOP)

STUART ANDERSON, PHYSIOTHERAPIST AND PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGIST

Over the past 18 years, Stuart has gained an extensive array of clinical expertise helping his clients reach their performance potential. He is internationally- qualified as a Mental Performance Coach, Physiotherapist and Acupuncturist. His clients include: Cirque Du Soleil (6 different shows and Headquarters), (London UK), Music BC, Ballet BC, British Rally, Peak Performance Project (102.7 Peak FM), Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, (Germany), Rambert Dance Co. (London), Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance Co. (London), London West End musicals: Billy Elliot, Lion King, Chicago, and The Producers, among many other performers and organizations.

For 5 years, Stuart was the Physiotherapist and lecturer in health & body conditioning at the Royal Opera House and . He continues to work with professional and pre-professional dancers (such as Arts Umbrella, Goh Ballet Academy, Richmond Academy of Dance, Pro-Arte, etc..). He was the President of Healthy Dancer Canada in 2015, and he is currently writing the curriculum for a new degree program offered by the Royal Ballet School (London UK).

Stuart’s clinic is in the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Vancouver BC — Anderson Performance Clinic (andersonperformanceclinic.com). He is happy to answer questions or just engage in discussion — Stuart can be contacted directly at [email protected]

LAST CALL—REFLECTIONS ON THE DAY AND A BIG PRIZE GIVE AWAY