Fountain of Youth Banner by emerging visual artist Hanlon Fauteux
Suddenly Dance Theatre introduces
EZE, GUERREIRO, & LEMUS
Fountain of Youth Program
Suddenly Dance Theatre's Fountain of Youth Program aims to support dance artists under the age of 26 to build new and diverse choreographic voices.
In 2022, with the help of Dance Victoria and Stages Performing Arts School, we have grown the program to support not 1 but 3 recipients: ELVIS EZE, JAREN GUERREIRO, and ANDREA LEMUS.
This trio of emerging dance artists inspired us with their shared passion for dance, curiosity for movement, and dedication to their craft.
Over the course of the next few months, the artists will inhabit studios at Dance Victoria and Stages Performing Arts School who are supporting the program with rehearsal space. They will each work with mentor KATHY LANG of Victoria’s Seda Dance, along with support from Suddenly Dance Theatre’s DAVID FERGUSON. We are thrilled this program can unite different members of our community.
We will present a short program of works and a chance to talk with the choreographers at a LIVE presentation. This will be held at Dance Victoria Studios in Summer 2022 - dates TBA.
We are pleased to introduce the artists:
“... I began training with a studio on the mainland - Sullivan Dance Company out of the school district - it was there that I met the teachers that really helped shape me into who I am as an artist and made me believe in the premise of working for what you want to achieve. I then moved to Victoria, where I am a student at the University of Victoria. In my first year, I continued my training on-campus under Vikes Nation - specifically the Uvic Dance Company's training classes where I worked to enhance my technique as well as build up my choreography retention skills. At the moment, I train at Seda Dance under the direction of Kathy Lang in contemporary dance and thankfully have had opportunities to showcase my growth.”
“I started dancing at age 9 at STAGES Performing Arts School. I trained in Ballet, Jazz, Acro, Tap, and Contemporary. By the end of high school, I was dancing for at least 13 hours a week. Around the end of high school, I became more seriously interested in theatre and decided to continue my training at the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA). I have recently graduated from the CCPA Studio Ensemble Program. Over the past three years at CCPA my interest in storytelling and creation has really grown. At college, I had numerous opportunities to create work from scratch. In my second year, I had the opportunity to create the movement/physical theatre for the new play Falsework (based on the true story of the Second Narrows Bridge collapse). I also had the opportunity to have Jacques Lemay mentor me on creating a new work where I combined stage combat sword work with athletic modern dance. Currently, I am in VOS’ production of Beauty and the Beast as well as assisting with choreography for CCPA’s SHREK: the musical. I love experimenting with exciting ways to explore movement and combine other skills and styles with my more traditional dance background. I enjoy learning new physical skills like skateboarding or kickboxing to try and broaden the types of motion I understand. I try to be constantly learning on my own and from working with other artists.”
“I began my training in classical ballet at a dance studio in Mexico where I also received training in other styles of dance like: jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop. I was chosen to be in the competition team and thanks to this I got to go to many competitions and international festivals, in which I received scholarships to train at schools like The Orlando Ballet School and The Rock School for Dance Education. When I graduated high school I went to Cuba to finish my training in classical ballet at the National Ballet School of Cuba. After graduating, I came to Canada to go to the Canadian College of Performing Arts. I really wanted to get training in other areas and styles of dancing to open more doors for me. I graduated CCPA and since then I have been working with theatre and dance companies in Victoria as a dancer, actor and choreographer. I now train with Ballet Victoria and Seda Dance. In the last few years I have gotten to choreograph a few shows, but this would be such a great opportunity for me to get more training in choreography and to open my creativity even more.”
KATHY LANG
DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of SEDA DANCE
Mentor for Suddenly Dance Theatre's FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH Program
Kathy Lang, a freelance contemporary dance artist in Victoria, B.C., is an accomplished choreographer, teacher and director. She studied dance at the University of Calgary and Grant McEwan University, and is trained in Limón, Graham and Horton technique, as well as Royal Academy and ISTD ballet. Kathy has trained in choreographic studies, Laban, and human anatomy. Kathy is an articulate, emotional and strong performer, choreographer and dance supporter. She has worked with renowned choreographers, including Joe Laughlin, Lola MacLaughlin, Brian Webb, Sheila Lawrence, Constance Cooke, Debra Shantz, Lindsay Walsh, and has performed with Mile Zero Dance Company (Edmonton) and Tantrum Collective (Vancouver). Kathy was Dance Victoria’s first artist in residence in 2011/12, where she began her work in progress, “Strings Attached.” Kathy’s contemporary technical style has a strong focus on both flow and the stark break from flow to expressed emotion. Her work is innovative, detailed, complex, and emotionally challenging.
SEE THE SHOW AND GET A BOOK!:
Sunday, November 27th
@2:30pm
BV Theatre, Kirk Hall, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Entrance: 680 Courtney Street
(limited seating)
Tickets $30 - Every ticket includes a copy of Small City, Big Talent.
Join us for a matinee performance of new works by emerging choreographers ELVIS EZE, VITOR FREITAS, and JAREN GUERREIRO. Mentored by KATHY LANG of Victoria’s Seda Dance, these dance artists will share their passion for dance, curiosity for movement, and dedication to their craft.
This show also includes a viewing of Suddenly Dance Theatre’s latest dance-film LUCKY MAYBE. Directed by David Ferguson, with a soundtrack by Miles Lowry, the 20 minute work features South Korea’s Hoyeon Kim.
Audience members will be invited to mingle with the artists, meet author Robin J Miller, and enjoy a piece of CAKE ON THE STAGE.
Photos of Youth: Dean Kalyan (Guerreiro), M.A. Garcia Barrera (Eze); Provided (Lemus); Tasha Cadence (Guerreiro - above)
Since late 2020, Suddenly Dance Theatre's Fountain of Youth Program has been recharged with the support of the CRD Arts Development, the Victoria Foundation; and our program donors Maleea Acker, Mauricio A. Garcia Barrera, Samuel Binette, Marion Ehrenberg, Ken Flett, Jodie Gawryluk, Janine Hannis, Valerie Lannon, Bonnie Leadbeater, Dr. Stephen Lindsay, Shea Lowry, Drew Mildon, Robert Milne, Theone Paterson, Michael Shamata, Jeany Shipley, Carolina Stratievsky, Jennifer Wise, and Theatre Skam.