Contemporary Technique + Movement Exploration with Kirsten Wicklund

Gibney 280 Broadway (Studio X)
$50

ABOUT KIRSTEN WICKLUND

Kirsten Wicklund (she/her) was born in British Columbia, Canada, and trained at Pacific Dance Arts, Goh Ballet Academy, Modus Operandi Contemporary Training Program and received scholarships to train at American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet & Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. Awards include; the Vancouver Foundation Arts Study Award, the Vancouver Ballet Society’s Memorial Scholarship, the Mary Day Artistry Award at the Youth American Grand Prix in NYC, and was the only Canadian to place in the Top 12 Women. She recently received the 2020 Choreographic award at YAGP, and her recent work, “Overcast,” was selected as a finalist for the International Choreographic Competition Hannover in 2021.

Kirsten has danced with The Washington Ballet Company, Alonzo King’s choreographic workshop, Lunge Dance Collective, Ballet BC, and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. As an independent creator, she has choreographed works for Dances for a Small Stage, the Dance Deck Series, Arts Umbrella, Goh Ballet, Lamon Dance, Dancing on the Edge Festival, The UBC Choir, Josh Beamish’s MOVE: the company, Dutch National Ballet’s “New Moves” Program, two commissions for Ballet Kelowna, and is currently creating a new work at the New York Choreographic Institute (an affiliate of NYCB).

From 2014-2021 Kirsten danced as a full time artist at Ballet BC under the direction of Emily Molnar, CM and most recently under Medhi Walerski. During her time with the creation-based company she danced works by Lesley Telford, Medhi Walerski, William Forsythe, Emmanuel Gat, Wen Wei Wang, Cayetano Soto, Adi Salant, Aszure Barton, Company 605, Johan Inger, Serge Bennathan, Jorma Elo, Jacopo Godani, Walter Mateini, Emily Molnar, Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal and others.

Kirsten is currently a Demi-Soloist at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Antwerp, Belgium under the Direction of Stephan Laks where she is performing works by Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Pina Bausch, Sharon Eyal & Jan Martins.

As a 200 HR E-RYT certified yoga teacher, Kirsten studies and practices a variety of movement languages. Kirsten teaches workshops and adjudicates across North America and Europe and is passionate about the creation process. She hopes to continue exploring many different avenues within the performing arts.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

This class will be based on fundamental contemporary techniques and will include exploration of movement and improvisation. Expect to work on contemporary + ballet principles through a focussed warm-up and progressions, including floor work. Using this technical skillset, we will explore repertoire from an existing work. After developing this movement, we will use the learnt language to explore improvisational worlds and further physical research to exercise our creative muscles. There will be a focus on finding your own unique way through existing material and fine-tuning a knowledge of how YOUR unique body moves in space. We will aim to discover detail and nuance in our physical body and cultivate curiosity and possibility within your perspective as a dance artist. Rigour and play will be simultaneously encouraged.

ABOUT GIBNEY’S EDUCATION PROGRAM

Through the cultivation of an inclusive and positive space, our offerings make space for exploration, risk-taking, personal and artistic growth, connection, and fun. It is our priority to listen to and support our community and to empower the future leaders of the field. Learn more.

Photo by Cindi Wicklund Fotografia