Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers is Canada's longest continuously running modern dance company.[1][2] Founded in 1964 by Rachel Browne, it has presented works in the Rachel Browne Theatre in Winnipeg[3] as well as locations across Canada and the United States. The company has created dances in the traditional modern dance style as well as avant-garde and expressionistic dance-theatre. Its current artistic director is Jolene Bailie.

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

Creation

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers was formed in 1964 as a student group by Rachel Browne.[2] It was recognised as a fully professional dance company in 1971 and begun receiving Canada Council grants. They performed works by a variety of American choreographers like James Waring and Dan Wagoner and also performed new works by upcoming Canadian choreographers like Jennifer Wootton Mascall and Linda Rabin. Browne encouraged her dancers to also choreograph for the company[4] and created works herself that reflected her humanistic viewpoints.[1] Browne worked in the company as artistic director, resident choreographer and teacher.[3]

Post-Browne era

In 1983 Browne was ousted as artistic director and replaced by Bill Evans. In 1984 Tedd Robinson was appointed artistic director. Robinson focused on an avant-garde style of choreography and remained with the company until 1990.[2]

Charles Moulton was appointed artistic director in 1990 which was a tumultuous season, leaving to company with an enormous deficit.[2] The company regrouped under Tom Stroud in 1991 who remained the artistic director for fourteen years. He created three works with the company that were based on William Shakespeare's plays[5] and focused on expressionistic dance-theater. In 2005 Brent Lott was promoted from dancer in the company to artistic director. In 2019, Jolene Bailie was appointed Artistic Director. Jolene Bailie is the first woman to lead the company since its founder, Rachel Browne.[2]

Notes
  1. Holmberg, Arthur; Solorzano, Carlos (2014). World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Volume 2: The Americas. 2. Routledge. p. 640. ISBN 1136118365.
  2. Crabbe, Michael; Botaitis, James (3 April 2015). "Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. Scene Staff (11 June 2012), Remembering Rachel Browne, founder of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 1 February 2016
  4. Anderson, Carol (3 April 2015). "Rachel Browne". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. Essays and Conversations on the Theory and Practice of Adaptation. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 26 March 2009. p. 285. ISBN 1443809357.
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