Les Jazz de Montréal: Me FEB 14 – 15 / 7:30 PM

Louis Robitaille ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jeremy Raia MASTER Céline Cassone ARTISTIC COORDINATOR Céline Cassone, Yosmell Calderon PRINCIPAL ARTISTS Brandi Baker, Jeremy Coachman, Shanna Irwin, Terra Kell, Elijah Labay, Marcel Mejia, Andrew Mikhaiel, Benjamin Mitchell, Saskya Pauzé-Bégin, Julia Radick, Madeleine Salhany, Ermanno Sbezzo ARTISTS Louis Morisset TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josée Kleinbaum TOUR DIRECTOR Daniel Ranger et Domenic Castelli HEAD CARPENTER Manon Meunier HEAD OF SOUND Claude Plante HEAD OF LIGHTING Steve Montambault et Eric Fauque HEAD OF VIDEO

PUBLIC PARTNERS

Dance Me runs approximately 80 minutes, with no intermission. BJM would like to thank Judy Bronfman for the support given to the creation of the show and The Marjorie and Gerald Bronfman Foundation for their support given to the creation.

This performance is made possible, in part, with the support of the Consulate General of Canada. Photo Marc Montplaisir - Montplaisir Marc Photo Hille Alexander and Cassone Céline Artists: PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 8 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Louis Robitaille BOARD OF DIRECTORS songs: Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle IDEATION Lopez Ochoa and Ihsan Rustem. Their François Vaqué powerful and profound choreographic Eric Jean PRESIDENT world reflective of Cohen’s singular DRAMATURGY AND STAGE DIRECTION Steve Desgagné et work is brought to life by 14 BJM Andonis Foniadakis, Paul Juneau performing artists. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, VICE-PRESIDENTS Surrounded by a team of celebrated Ihsan Rustem Odile Poupart designers, Dance Me combines scenic, visual, musical, dramaturgical and TREASURER choreographic writing to pay tribute to Martin Léon Brigitte Nepveu Montréal’s greatest ambassador. Dance, MUSIC DIRECTION SECRETARY music, lighting, scenography and Alexis Dumais Noémie Brière-Marquez videography all in this MUSIC CONCEPTION unforgettable show, for which BJM has Vasco Ceccon been granted exclusive dance rights for Pierre-Etienne Locas Matyas Gabor years. SCENOGRAPHY AND PROP Benoît Grenier CONCEPTION Songs by Alexandre Brunet Alexandre Lagarde Suzanne (1967); So Long, Marianne SCENOGRAPHY TECHNICAL Hélène Lamarre (1967); Famous Blue Raincoat (1971); DIRECTION Dominique Lapierre Lover, Lover, Lover (1974); Hallelujah (1984); First We Take Manhattan (1988); Cédric Delorme-Bouchard, Jean-François Laroque Tower of Song (1988); Everybody knows Simon Beetschen Tammy Peddle (2001); Here It Is (2001); Dance Me LIGHTING DESIGN AND Olivier Perron-Collins to the End of Love (live in London, PRODUCTION 2009); Boogie Street (live in London, Mathieu Piché-Messier 2009); Nevermind (2014); Steer Your Gonzalo Soldi, Thomas Benoit-Pierre Stock Way (2016); It Seemed the Better Way Payette, Jeremy Fassio Line Tanguay (2016); String Reprise / Treaty (2016); A Thousand Kisses Deep (poem) VIDEO DESIGN HUB STUDIO MEMBERS Philippe Dubuc Excerpts of songs COSTUME DESIGN Website: www.bjmdanse.ca Anne-Marie Veevaete Suzanne Follow us! And you want to travel with her, COSTUME PRODUCTION Facebook/LesBalletsJazzdeMontréal And you want to travel blind Elsa Posnic Instagram/balletsjazzdemontreal And you know that ASSISTANCE STAGE DIRECTION Twitter@bjmdanse She will trust you Guy Fortin For you’ve touched her Perfect body with your mind SOUND ENGINEER Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me is an exclusive creation Dance Me Dance Me to the End of Love Marie-Joëlle Tremblay inspired by the rich and profound work Dance me to the wedding now, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER of Montréal-based poet, artist and Dance me on and on songwriter, Leonard Cohen. Approved Dance me very tenderly Liane Barriault by Leonard Cohen during his lifetime ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE And dance me very long and under the artistic direction of We’re both of us beneath our love, MANAGER Louis Robitaille and the strong and bold We’re both of us above Alexia Deruard dramaturgy of Eric Jean, this riveting Dance me to the end of love COMMUNICATIONS AND homage to the famed poet-singer- Dance me to the end of love songwriter evokes the grand cycles of FUNDRAISING MANAGER existence in five seasons, as described Gabrielle Paquin Treaty in Cohen’s deeply reflective music and And I wish there was a treaty ACCOUNTING AND poems. We could sign ADMINISTRATION TECHNICIAN Three internationally renowned I wish there was a treaty choreographers were entrusted with Between your love and mine putting movement to Cohen’s legendary

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 9 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

So Long, Marianne initiative of Madam Chiriaeff, whom BJM in 1998, where he redefined the So long Marianne, he viewed as a mentor, the young company's artistic approach without It’s time that we began dancer was recruited by the Grands abandoning its unique nature. To laugh and cry and cry and Ballets Canadiens in 1978. As part of the Louis Robitaille is the recipient of the Laugh about it all again GBC's 20th anniversary program, he Order of Canada, the Ordre national du was chosen for the title role in Lucas Québec and the Jacqueline Lemieux Famous Blue Raincoat Hoving's classic Icarus. Prize. He has received numerous grants It’s four in the morning, In the early 1980s he was invited on from the Ministry of Culture, The end of December several occasions to perform with and he and his company were awarded I’m writing you now the Ballets de l’Opéra in Avignon, the Prix Rideau Hommage in addition Just to see if you’re better France. It was there that he had a to the Montréal Arts Council's Prix de New York is cold, significant encounter with Rudy Bryans. reconnaissance. But I like where I’m living This with the Ballet There’s music on Clinton Street National de Marseille (a company ERIC JEAN (Stage Director) All through the evening directed by ) made a is without a shadow of a doubt one of big impact on Louis Robitaille, as he the most esteemed and outstanding ABOUT THE ARTISTS became a source of inspiration and stage directors of his generation. LES BALLETS JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL is a guide who greatly influenced his His appointment in 2004 as General an internationally renowned repertory dancing and his artistic path. and Artistic Director of Théâtre de Quat’Sous, and his ensuing success, company that has evolved with In 1984 he participated in the Helsinki are a reflection of the trust and spirited energy ever since its birth International Ballet Competition with confidence he has established in the in 1972. Under the artistic direction his partner Anik Bissonnette. They of Louis Robitaille since 1998, and theatre milieu, which quickly saw him performed Eddy Toussaint's Un simple boasting a troupe of world-class as a bold, unique artist who has made moment, and won a gold medal for the a significant artistic contribution to dancers, BJM now works with some choreographer. They were invited to Quebec theatre. of the most prestigious figures in the perform at the Festival of Two Worlds in world of dance and contemporary Spoleto, by its founder Gian Carlo A prolific and inventive director and ballet, without ever losing sight of its Menotti, who proved to be a supportive an occasional actor, he is greatly true essence. Since its inception, the presence. They also performed as appreciated for his commitment to up- company has performed more than guest artists at three festivals directed and-coming artists, both as a teacher 2,600 shows in 68 countries for nearly by Menotti in Italy, and at Spoleto and also at the professional level. 3 million spectators. Festival USA in Charleston as well Where Eric Jean has made his as the Melbourne International Arts LOUIS ROBITAILLE mark and his reputation, however, Festival in Australia, in addition to guest is in his creative approach. Using (Artistic Director) artist performances with the Ballet de The dancer and structured improvisations as his Toulouse in France and many around point of departure, he also works in artistic director Louis the world. Robitaille was born in conjunction with playwright and set Montréal in 1957. Louis Louis Robitaille joined the Grands design, gradually piecing together his Robitaille was inspired Ballets Canadiens as a principal stage plays. Striking examples of this, © Christopher Pozio © Christopher to pursue a career in dancer in 1989. Between 1990 and which he calls “writing as action,” are dance after being discovered at a high his departure in 1998, he added 35 of course his renowned Hippocampe, school dance performance in 1973. His roles to his repertoire in works by written in collaboration with Pascal natural talent attracted the attention choreographers such as Balanchine, Brullemans, and his 2009 staging of of his physical education teacher Peter Dolin, Duato, Fokine, Forsythe, Kudelka, Chambre(s), co-written with Pascal George, who was also a dancer with the Kylián, Limon, Lock, Nault and Tudor. Chevarie. Not only was Hippocampe the recipient of the 2003 Prix de Ballets Jazz de Montréal. Thanks to Mr. In 1994 Louis Robitaille became la critique, but the director was George's intervention, he received a Artistic Director of the Jeune Ballet du also nominated for the prestigious scholarship enabling him to take part Québec, where he explored new dance Siminovitch Prize in 2004, one of five in the BJM summer training program. forms. Encouraged by the response finalists. In 1974 at the age of 16, Louis Robitaille to his work, he established a small joined the Compagnie de danse Eddy chamber ballet group, Bande à Part, Other notable productions were Toussaint (later known as the Ballet de and also founded Danse-Théâtre de Corps étrangers/Cuerpos extranos Montréal), where he performed and Montréal. (2005), a piece co-written with Pascal studied dance under the tutelage of a Brullemans and first created in Mexico Along with Karen Kain, Frank Augustyn, wide range of ballet masters. before being presented in Quebec. David Peregrine and Evelyn Hart, he (2009-2011) was written in His incarnation of the legendary was an outstanding dance artist of his Opium_37 collaboration with Catherine Léger, character Alexis le Trotteur turned him generation. He continued to dance after which he staged Luc Tartar’s into an icon of Quebec dance. At the and was appointed artistic director of

10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE ABOUT THE ARTISTS play for adolescents S’embrasent de Montréal (Canada), Martha Graham Colombian-Belgian (2009-2017). This was followed by Le Dance Company (USA) Cedar Lake ANNABELLE ventriloque (2012) by Larry Tremblay, Contemporary Ballet (USA) Aterballetto LOPEZ OCHOA Survivre (2013) by Olivier Kemeid, (Italy), Ballet du Rhin (France), (Choreographer) Testament by Vickie Gendreau (2014), Sydney Dance Company (Australia) completed her dance Variations sur un temps by David Ives Florence Ballet (Italy), National education at the (2015) and Dance Company of Wales (England) Royal Ballet School of Le Joker (2016) by Larry Tremblay. Dansgroep Amsterdam (), Groenestege Tiel © Titus Flanders in Belgium. In Cia Sociedade Masculina Brazil Bale 2003, after a 12-year long dance career, Autumn 2016 marked the beginning of da Cidade of São Paulo (Brazil), where she danced as a soloist with the a new adventure for Eric Jean, as he Helsinki Dance Company (), Scapino Ballet, she decided to focus resigned as artistic director of Théâtre National Ballet of Greece, National her energy solely on choreography. In de Quat’Sous in order to focus on Theater of Northern Greece, Greek that same year, she was hailed “rising directing, writing and filmmaking. National Theater (Greece), Codarts star of the Dutch dance scene” (NRC (Netherlands), Benjamin Millepied newspaper) and only 7 years later the ANDONIS FONIADAKIS Dance Company (USA), Washington (Choreographer) Temecula Performing Arts Examiner Ballet (USA), Bejart Ballet Lausanne wrote, ”Ochoa is truly a masterful grew up in the city of (Switzerland), Ballet Junior Geneva choreographer with an edge for Ierapetra, in the south (Switzerland), Hellenic Dance Company what dance can and should be in this part of the island of (Greece), CNSMD Lyon (France), constantly changing industry.” Crete, in Greece. Copenhagen International Dance He began his dance Annabelle is an award-winning and Festival (Denmark). training with Niki sought-after choreographer who Papadaki at the local dance school, in He was director of the Greek National has created works for more than 40 his hometown. From 1990 to 1992, he Ballet for the 2016-2017 season and companies around the world such studied at the State Dance School of programmed the 2016-17 and 2017-18 as the Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Athens and before his graduation he seasons. He is currently the resident Dutch National Ballet, Djazzex, Ballet received the prestigious Maria Callas choreographer of the Greek National de Genève, Royal Ballet of Flanders, scholarship to continue his studies in Ballet. Gothenburg Ballet, , BalletX, BJM-Danse Montréal, Rudra Bejart Lausanne, in Switzerland Foniadakis has been commissioned to Luna Negra Dance Theater, Ballet until 1994. choreograph for 3 operas: The Theatre National de Marseille, Saarbrucken As a dancer Andonis has collaborated des Champs Elysees - Castor et Pollux, Ballet, Jacoby & Pronk, Chemnitzer with Bejart Ballet Lausanne (1994-1996) Opera National du Rhin - Les boreades Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, Morphoses under the direction of Maurice Bejart, by Rameau GRAME Lyon - Il canto de la Wheeldon Company, Whim W’Him, Lyon Opera Ballet (1996-2002) under pelle by Claudio Ambrosini. IncolBallet de Colombia, Finnish the direction of Yorgos Loukos, Saburo He collaborated as moving coordinator National Ballet, Compania Nacional de Teshigawara / Karas Co. (2004) under for the filmNoah by Darren Aronofsky. Danza Madrid, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the direction of Saburo Teshigawara, In 2012 he received the Danza Scottish Ballet, The Washington Ballet, as well as with his own dance company and Danza Award for the “Best Ballet Nacional Dominicano, Ballet “Apotosoma-Andonis Foniadakis.” Choreographer 2012” in Italy for the Saarbrucken, Augsburg Ballet, Ballet During the years of his professional creation Les Noces in Maggio Danza- Austin, Atlanta Ballet, Grand Rapids engagement with these companies he Florence Ballet. Ballet, Ballet Moscow, Ballet Nacional has performed choreographic works de Cuba, West Australian Ballet, Danza of Maguy Marin, Jiri Kilian, William He has also collaborated with Palais de Contemporanea de Cuba, Ballet Forsythe, Dominique Boivin, Nacho as Choreographic Curator for Nacional Chileno, Ballet Staatstheater Duato, Mats Ek, Maurice Bejart, Ohad the exhibition Prec(ar)ious Collectives am Gartnerplatz Munchen, Ballet Naharin, Frederic Flamand, Bill T. that took place in Athens, Greece as a Manila, Daniil Simkin Intensio Project, Jones, Herve Robbe, , parallel event of the Documenta 14 in Cincinnati Ballet, Silicon Valley Ballet, Lionel Hoche, Joachim Schlomer, John 2017. Joffrey Ballet, , Jasperse, Saburo Teshigawara and In addition to creating and performing, Ballet Black and New York City Ballet. more. Andonis is teaching seminars based In 2009, she created for As a freelance choreographer he on his personal dance technique. He Zip Zap Zoom BJM, which was included in the “10 best has collaborated with The Royal has been teaching in the State Dance dance moments of the year” by the New Zealand Ballet, Geneva Ballet School of Greece, DAN.C.CE studios , Switzerland, Lyon Opera Ballet and Baile de Barrio in Athens, DOCK11 Pittsburgh Gazette The Boston Globe and the and was cited (France), Bern Ballet (Switzerland), in Berlin, CND and CNSMD in Lyon, Montréal Gazette as one of the 10 best dance highlights Ballet de Lorraine (France) Luzern Dansgroep Amsterdam, Henny Jurriens. of the year in San Diego and Chicago. Ballet (Switzerland) Gauthier Dance Company (Germany), Les Ballets Jazz

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Her work has received numerous 2012 Sadler’s Wells Global Dance Duato, William Forsythe and Ohad awards. In 2016, Broken Wings, created Contest as well as the Public Prize at Naharin. He has originated roles in for the English National Ballet was the 25th International Competition world premieres by Stijn Celis, Didy nominated for a National UK Dance for Choreographers Hannover, and Veldman, Mauro Bigonzetti and Stephan Award in the category of Best Classical Carmen received Dance Magazine's Thoss. He has incarnated Romeo and Premiere. In 2015, Sombrerisimo, 2017 Readers' Choice Award for Best Mercutio in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s created for Ballet Hispanico, was given Collaboration. Rustem was the 2014 Romeo and Juliet, as well as Leonce in the Villanueva Award in Cuba. In 2012, A recipient of Hubbard Christian Spuck’s Leonce and Lena. Streetcar Named Desire was nominated Chicago's International Commissioning Jeremy has taught in schools and for the prestigious Olivier Award (UK), Project, and the Nederlands Dans conventions around the United States, named Best Classical Choreography Theater placed Ihsan on their program Canada and South America. He taught by the Circle of Critics of the National of Up & Coming Choreographers in company class and was an assistant to Dance Award (UK), and was awarded 2019. Ballet Masters at Les Grands Ballets as well as being a representative for the Best Dance Production 2012 by the His work has appeared in the repertoire company, teaching master classes to South-Bank Sky Arts Awards. In 2007, of NDT2 (The Netherlands), Les during Les Grands’ international tours. Annabelle was elected to participate in Ballets Jazz de Montréal (Canada), He has been an artist-in-residence at the New York City Ballet Choreographic Hubbard Street Dance Chicago 2 Hamilton College in New York and Ballet Institute. In 2002, Replay received first (USA), National Ballet of Chile (Chile), Metropolitano in Colombia, and he prize the audience prize at the Borne Istanbul State Ballet MDT (Turkey), restaged Didy Veldman’s choreography Choreographers Competition, and Ballet Moscow (Russia), Tanz Luzerner on Germany’s Leipzig Ballet. in 2001, Clair/Obscur received third Theater (Switzerland), Tanz Theater prize at the Hannover Choreographic Braunschweig (Germany), Konzert , poet, Competition. Theater Bern (Switzerland), Ballett LEONARD NORMAN COHEN novelist, singer, songwriter (born 21 Augsburg (Germany), Kazan State September 1934 in Montréal, QC; IHSAN RUSTEM Opera and Ballet (Russia), Whim W'Him died 7 November 2016 in Los Angeles, (Choreographer) Seattle (USA), Koblenz Ballet (Germany), California). Leonard Cohen was one was born in London, Thüringer Staatsballett (Germany), of the most iconic Canadian artists where he trained Salt (USA), Arts of the 20th century. A sage, mystic, at the Rambert Umbrella Dance Company Vancouver bohemian and romantic, he built an School of Ballet and (Canada) Ballet Regensburg (Germany), Contemporary Dance. acclaimed body of literary work and

© Ida Zenna © Ida Würzburg Ballet (Germany), Siberian a revered career in pop music. In his Rustem began his State Ballet (Russia), Staatstheater poetry, novels and music, he constantly professional career at the age of 17, Schwerin (Germany) and the National probed the human condition, exploring joining Matthew Bourne's Adventures Youth Dance Company (UK). themes of love, loss, death and his in Motion Pictures, followed by He was twice a featured choreographer commitment to his art. As a poetic and engagements with the BallettTheater for Russia's popular TV show The unlikely pop star, his narrow-ranged, (Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz) Bolshoi Ballet. gruff voice, which deepened and and Introdans in The Netherlands. In darkened with age, and his reliance 2007 Ihsan moved to Switzerland as a Ihsan is the former Artistic Director of on simple, singsong melodies were soloist with the Bern Ballet and later a the Dance Art Studio Luzern and lives complimented by the intense imagery founding member of the Tanz Luzerner in Zurich, Switzerland. and depth of his lyrics. A Companion of Theater. JEREMY RAIA (Ballet Master) began his the Order of Canada, he was inducted During this period, Ihsan originated training in Queens, NY. He graduated into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, roles in creations by Wayne McGregor, from The Juilliard School with a BFA the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Hofesh Shechter, Alexander Ekman, in 1996. Mr. Raia also studied at the the US Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Matthew Bourne, Stijn Celis, Patrick Boston Ballet School and the Koniklijk Hall of Fame and the Folk Delcroix, Cayetano Soto, Felix Landerer, Conservatory in the Netherlands. In Music Walk of Fame. He also received Guilherme Bothello and worked with 1996, he began his professional career the Glenn Gould Prize, the of choreographers Mats Ek, Jiri Kylián, with Ballet Arizona dancing works by Asturias Award for Literature, eight ® Paul Lightfoot / Sol Leon, Hans van , Michael Uthoff and Juno Awards, a GRAMMY Lifetime Manen and William Forsythe, amongst . After two seasons, he Achievement Award and numerous others. was invited to join Les Grands Ballets other honors. In 2015, Ihsan was appointed Resident Canadiens in Montréal where he was a Choreographer for the NW Dance premiere soloist until retiring in 2018. Project in Portland, Oregon. His He is a dancer of both classical and work for the NW Dance Project has contemporary works by a multitude been recognized with numerous of choreographers, including George accolades. State of Matter won the Balanchine, Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Nacho

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Born in France, CÉLINE BRANDI BAKER began SHANNA IRWIN, CASSONE (Principal her dance training USA, grew up in Artist) began studying studying a variety of New Jersey where dance as a child at disciplines. Earlier she began training the Conservatoire on in her career she as a competitive National de Danse focused more on the dancer. She switched d’Avignon. Céline has commercial industry her focus towards © Marc Montplaisir © Marc had the opportunity Montplaisir © Marc which took her to Montplaisir © Marc ballet when she was to take part in many innovative California where she signed to her accepted into The New Jersey Dance contemporary productions while also agency. After some time there her Theatre Ensemble, under the direction working with internationally renowned passion brought her to Vancouver, of Nancy Turano. She spent summers choreographers. She performed in where she started training at Arts training with World Dance Movement- several international galas and was Umbrella under the guidance of Artemis Italy, Complexions Contemporary Ballet the recipient, in 2006, of the Étoile de Gordon. During this time she has been and The Vancouver Arts Umbrella. Ballet 2000 dance award and in 2010, fortunate enough to have performed Irwin went on to continue her studies she received the Premio Asti Danza works by Cayetano Soto, Compagnie at Marymount Manhattan College, dance award. Deciding to acquire , Mauro Astolfi, under the direction of Katie Langan. the freedom to accept a variety of Fernando Magadan, Aszure Barton, She began touring with Complexions new challenges, Céline became an Crystal Pite, Sharon Eyal, Jirí Kylián, Contemporary Ballet during her senior independent artist in 2008. William Forsythe, Gioconda Barbuto, year and graduated with a BFA in , Leslie Telford, Wen Wei Dance in May 2014. She completed five She was part of Morphoses, Wang and Mats Ek. After two years at seasons with Complexions, and in 2019 Christopher Wheeldon’s company, Arts Umbrella she joined BJM in 2017. accepted a position with Ballets Jazz de and she worked with choreographer Montréal. Recent recognition includes Benjamin Millepied ( , Dance Teacher Magazine: “Shanna Concertantes). She joined BJM in 2008 JEREMY COACHMAN born and raised in Irwin has been dazzling audiences with as the Principal Artist and additionally Riviera Beach, Florida, her undeniable strength, full-bodied became Artistic Coordinator in 2009. began his preliminary performances, and eternally lengthened training at the Palm lines.” Born in Russia, Beach Ballet Center, YOSMELL CALDERON under the direction TERRA KELL was

(Principal Artist) Montplaisir © Marc of Joan Miller for 6 raised in Calgary, graduated as a years. While training, he worked and Alberta, where she dancer and teacher performed with members of Ballet attended Drewitz of contemporary Florida as well as other companies Dance Productions dance and

© Marc Montplaisir © Marc around the country. Jeremy spent and EDGE School from Cuba's National 2 years training full-time with Ballet for Athletes. She School of Dance (ENA) in Havana in Montplaisir © Marc Florida where he performed full-length continued her dance 2005, and also received a diploma ballets such as training at the University of Arizona, from the University of Arts (ISA) in , Copellia and , as well as appearing where she received a Bachelor of 2014. Yosmell has collaborated with Cleopatra as a dancer in the Palm Beach Opera’s Fine Arts in Dance, . outstanding figures in the world of summa cum laude production of in 2007. Upon graduating, Terra attended dance such as Rafael Bonachela, Mats La Traviata He studied under the direction of Springboard Danse Montréal, through Ek, Itzik Galili, Carlos Junior Acosta, Heather Lescaille and Tina Martin at the which she auditioned for and joined Jan Linkens, Juan Cuz and Ana Laguna. Florida Dance Conservatory in 2009 Visceral Dance Chicago. With Visceral, He has performed as a principal and graduated from the Alexander W. Terra had the opportunity to perform dancer of Danza Contemporanea de Dreyfoos School of the Arts in 2011 at the Harris Theatre and take part Cuba in Pal Frenak Company, in more and became a finalist in the YoungArts in collaboration with the Chicago than 22 works by Cuban and foreign National Foundation for Advancement Philharmonic Orchestra. Terra has had choreographers, touring important of the Arts (NFAA) competition. the great pleasure of dancing works festivals and theatre venues around Jeremy worked with performers and by , Jerome Robbins, the world. He is a choreographer for choreographers such as Desmond Lesley Telford and Anne Teresa De the Cuban National Ballet School and Richardson, Aubrey Lynch, Camille Keersmaeker, among others. In 2015, its performances at the International A. Brown and Bill T. Jones. Jeremy Terra was the recipient of the Maria C. Ballet Festival of Havana and, thanks to graduated The Juilliard School with a Mandel Memorial Ballet Scholarship. his background in Olympic gymnastics, BFA in Dance and started the adventure Terra joined les Ballets Jazz de he also choreographs for circus with BJM in 2015. Montréal in 2018. performances. He joined BJM in July 2016 and was promoted to Principal Artist in 2019.

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ELIJAH LABAY, born ANDREW MIKHAIEL, SASKYA PAUZÉ-BÉGIN in Victoria, British originally from studied at the École Columbia, started Mississauga, Ontario, Supérieure de Ballet training at Ballet Arts earned a BFA at du Québec from Academy in Spokane, Marymount Manhattan 2011 to 2014. She Washington. In 2004, College in 2017, under spent the last two Elijah joined Canada’s the direction of Katie summers between © Marc Montplaisir © Marc Royal Winnipeg Ballet Montplaisir © Marc Langan. During his Montplaisir © Marc semesters at the Arts Professional Division and later attended tenure at MMC, he danced in works Umbrella summer intensive workshop the Fellowship Program at The Alvin choreographed by Paul Taylor, Aszure in Vancouver, and attended summer Ailey School on full scholarship. Elijah Barton, Alexandra Damiani, Darrell ballet classes in Berlin taught by William received a Professional Advancement Grand Moultrie, Norbert De La Cruz Forsythe, learning the repertoire of The Award at Jacob’s Pillow to work with III, Adam Barruch, Larry Keigwin Nutcracker - Claude Caron, Aszure Barton, Helen Pickett and Tero and Jo Strømgren. He performed at - Taïna Morales, Balanchine (Diamonds Saarinen. In 2009, he joined Florida The Joyce Theater for the Martha and Episodes) - Josyanne Sidimus, Dance Theatre, dircected by Carol Graham Company’s University Partners Seascape - Judith Marcuse, M.O.R. - Erkes. In 2010, Elijah joined NW Dance Showcase, at the 92nd Street Y’s Gioconda Barbuto, Hommage - Sophie Project, where he danced original Fridays at Noon Series and for the Estel. She began her first season with works created by Sarah Slipper, Patrick American Dance Guild. In his senior BJM in 2014 as the second recipient of Delcroix, Ihsan Rustem, Lucas Crandall, year, Andrew directed and organized the Eva von Gencsy Scholarship, which Jiri Pokorny, Pedro Dias, Danielle a dance outreach program for NYC supports emerging young dancers in Agami, Yin Yue, Gregory Dolbashian, public schools, serving two hundred Quebec. André Mesquita, Wen Wei Wang, James and forty 3rd-5th graders. He was Gregg, Felix Lander, Alex Soares, Loni accepted to and attended Springboard JULIA RADICK was Landon, Olivier Wevers, Noam Gagnon Danse Montréal in the summer of 2016. born and raised in and others. Elijah joined BJM in 2018. Andrew joined Les Ballets Jazz de New York City. She Montréal in 2017. trained at LaGuardia MARCEL MEJIA is Arts High School and originally from Miami, Born in Germany, received a Bachelor of Florida. He graduated BENJAMIIN MITCHELL Fine Arts with honors from New World trained at The Royal Montplaisir © Marc from NYU Tisch School School of the Arts Ballet School White of the Arts. Julia spent six seasons with and later attended Lodge and the NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, George Mason Upper School. He where she danced original roles by © Marc Montplaisir © Marc University’s School completed his last Ihsan Rustem, Sarah Slipper, Cayetano of Dance under the directoin of Susan Montplaisir © Marc year of training at Soto, Patrick Delcroix, Felix Landerer, Shields. He has performed works from Elmhurst School where he performed Lucas Crandall, Jiri Pokorny, Wen Wei world-renowned choreographers with The Birmingham Royal Ballet. Wang, Danielle Agami, Yin Yue and such as , Nacho Duato, Upon graduating in 2007, he joined others. She joined BJM in 2019. Andonis Foniadakis, Ivan Perez and The Northern Ballet, where he Alejandro Cerrudo. Mr. Mejia has also performed many leading roles and Born and raised in attended summer dance programs worked with choreographers such as Ottawa, Ontario, such as Springboard Danse Montréal in Wayne McGregor, Hanz van Manen and MADELEINE SALHANY Canada – where he performed works Cathy Marston. In 2013, he was named is a recent BFA by Johannes Wieland and Rachel Erdos the critics’ choice Outstanding Male graduate from the – and the San Francisco Conservatory Dancer in Dance Europe. After leaving conservatory of dance of Dance, dancing original works by Tom from Northern Ballet in 2013, he joined at SUNY Purchase. Weinberger, Alex Ketley and excerpts the Deborah Colker Dance Company Montplaisir © Marc Madeleine began her of Ohad Naharin’s repertory. Marcel has in Rio de Janeiro, where he performed training at Canterbury High School of served on the faculty of the Thomas in and around South America and the Arts and Greta Leeming Studio Armour Youth Ballet and as a volunteer participated in the FIFA World Cup of Dance. During this time she was dance instructor at the Lotus House final draw performance. In 2014, Ben given the opportunity to dance with Shelter in Miami, Florida. He joined BJM joined Phoenix Dance Theatre where he the Kirov Ballet in La Bayadère and in 2019 as an apprentice. danced for two years. As a teacher and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ The assistant, he has taught and set works Nutcracker at Ottawa’a National Arts on companies and schools in the United Centre. Throughout her four years at Kingdom and the United States. Ben Purchase, she was fortunate enough joined BJM in 2016. to work with Ana Maria Lucaciu, Loni Landon, Sidra Bell, and Ohad Naharin (Decadance). Madeleine was also given

14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE ABOUT THE ARTISTS the opportunity to study abroad at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) during her third year. She has had the privilege of attending several summer programs and workshops including Arts Umbrella, Movement Invention Project NYC, the Pina Bausch Workshop at WAAPA and Summer Intensive. Madeleine is excited to be joining BJM this season.

ERMANNO SBEZZO (Italy) trained at BalletO di Toscana School in Florence, Italy before graduating from École supérieure de Cannes Rosella © Marc Montplaisir © Marc Hightower in Cannes, France. His professional career began at Ballet Pforzeim (Germany) and continued on to Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern (Germany), both under the direction of James Sutherland. Sbezzo has performed works by Jean- Christophe Maillot, Jiri Kylian, James Sutherland, Davide Bombana, George Balanchine and Francesco Nappa. In 2014 he attended the Nederlands Dans Theater summer intensive where he worked with Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot, Crystal Pite, and Marco Goecke. In 2019, he joined BJM - Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal.

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