FESTIVAL CLASSES
The Magpie Collection: A Dance Festival classes + workshops. Check out the schedule of classes and join us from July 15-28 at MZD’s summer dance festival!
WEEK ONE
JULY 15
10-11:30 AM | Alicia Ortega Servín | Mexican Traditional Dance Class
Alicia Ortega Servín graduated from the National School of Mexican Traditional Dance of the National Institute of Fine Arts, has over 30 years of experience as a professional dancer and dance teacher in Mexico and Edmonton.
12-1:30 PM | Molly McDermott | Contemporary
Molly McDermott is a dance artist performing, creating, and teaching movement in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, colonially know as Edmonton. Upon receiving her BFA in 2007, she spent over a decade interpreting and performing work by Kokoro Dance, Mascall Dance, Co. Erasga Dance, Les Productions Figlio, Justine A. Chambers, Deanna Peters and Billy Marchenski among others.
JULY 16
10-11:30 AM | Cuban Movements, Leo Gonzalez | Afro-Contemporary
Leo Gonzalez | Born and raised in Havana, Leo was selected to study at the prestigious National College of Art and Music Shows in Havana, where he became a professional dancer and choreographer with extensive knowledge of traditional Cuban and international dances, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Haitian, ballet and contemporary.
After moving to Edmonton he started the Cuban Movements Dance Academy in 2013 to share his passion and love for Cuban dance and culture with the Edmonton community.
In 2022, Leo was selected for the inaugural cohort of RISER Edmonton, a collaborative producing model for theatre and interdisciplinary artists to create and present new work. As part of this opportunity, he presented The Power of the Drum, a homage to the power of the drum as a reflection of the resilience, adaptability, creativity, and autonomy of the Cuban Diaspora in the midst of struggle, crisis, and uncertainty.
In 2023, Leo presented Ay Candela!, A Cuban Dance adaptation of the Chicago play at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. He was also a recipient of the 2023 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Awards.
12-1:30 PM | Phany Peña | Vahine Ori Tahiti
Vahine Ori Tahiti, Tahitian female style dance, with Phany Peña.
Phany Peña, an Edmonton-based artist, immigrant, and member of the BIPOC community, is determined to immerse herself in her dancing skills and artistic creation. She has practiced several dance techniques, prominent among them are: Polynesian dance, classical ballet, and a few contemporary styles. These techniques have very precise forms of expression that sometimes wouldn’t fulfill what she’s trying to express, so that emboldened her to incorporate the study of performance techniques that would contribute to her artistic statements as part of her creative process.
She understands art as a communication channel that the artists use to express themselves, make a point, or encourage the audience to wonder about a topic. Having said this, she is committed to using her artistic knowledge and talents to tell stories and draw attention to topics that are important in today’s context.
JULY 17
10-11:30 AM | Busyrawk | Breaking & Rocking Fundamentals
Breaking, often mistakenly called breakdancing, is a dance form that emerged as a cultural phenomenon in the early 1970s in the marginalized communities of the South Bronx, New York City. This competitive dance form arose from the diverse music scene of the time, which included funk, soul, salsa, and mambo. Breaking is renowned for its physical intensity and dynamic moves performed at ground level, a departure from typical social dance norms.
Rocking, the predecessor of breaking, heavily influenced its development. The fundamentals of breaking reflect how young dancers observed their elders performing rocking. This dance style was prevalent among the outlaws and gangs of New York City, drawing influences from the Latin hustle, salsa, mambo, and funk roots popular among Afro-American, Indigenous, and Nuyorican communities during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This workshop will introduce the basics of both breaking and rocking, aiming to inspire participants to apply these techniques to other dance styles.
Topics:
– Footwork basics, starting with the Babylove step
– Groove & bounce
– Angles
– “Breakspace”
– claiming space
12-1:30 PM | erψn temp3st | VR Dance demo
FREE to attend (RSVP your attendance to media@milezerodance.com)
erψn temp3st is a Canadian choreographer, film maker, and glitch artist of settler descent currently splitting their time between amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) and Tiohtià:ke (Montréal). They are engaged in practices around softness, transformation, and disruption, encountering the body as the strange ineffable site where dreams coalesce into matter and where imagination takes form.
As a performer they have worked with Mile Zero Dance, K.O Dance Project, Andrea Peña, Benoît Lachambre, Project Contrabête, Camille Lacelle-Wilsey, and Nien Tzu Weng. eryn’s work has been presented by Le Festival International du Film Sur L’Art, Nextfest, Expanse, Vous Êtes Ici/You Are Here, Tangente Danse, Mile Zero Dance, and Shooting Gallery Performance Series. They have danced in experimental films by choreographer/film maker Kaitlyn Ramsden as well as in music videos for Basia Bulat, Camille Delean, and Busty and the Bass. They have received support from Circuit-est, The Edmonton Arts Council, Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts. eryn is one third of the sun sets collective, an interdisciplinary research project that explores the real and the artificial through the phenomenon of the sunset.
JULY 18
10-11:30 AM | Tia Kushniruk | Contemporary floorwork
12-1:30 PM | Minggao Zhang | In/action (interaction between body improvisation and music)
The workshop aims to embark on a sensory journey of interaction between the body improvisation and music, guided by the principle of Daoist’s thought ‘Wu Wei‘ as a physical movement. Using the five tones (gong, shang, jue, zhi, yu) of the traditional Chinese instrument – Gu Qin (Play by Dr. Xiaodan, Wu), it first places the body in a relaxed and natural state, then participants will explore ‘qi’ (breath) awareness, integrating movement principles from Chinese dance aesthetics: ‘ping yuan’ (level circle), ‘li yuan’ (vertical circle), and ‘ba zi yuan’ (figure-eight circle). Fundamentally anchored around the waist—”Ti, Chen, Chong, Kao, Tian, Han, Yi, Yang“—allow the body to synchronize with the rhythmic cadence of Gu Qin music and the pulse of ‘qi’, fostering a heightened sense of movement awareness and inspiring a series of bodily movements and gestures.
JULY 19
10-11:30 AM | Johanna Bundon | The Feldenkrais Method ®
The Feldenkrais Method ® is an innovative system of movement education. The intention is to learn greater ease and efficiency of movement. A major theme of this method is that movement is life, and life is movement. When we find more comfort in our movement, we find more comfort and pleasure in our life.
Group classes in the Feldenkrais Method are called Awareness Through Movement ® (ATM). ATM classes consist of verbally guided movement sequences intended to refine habitual and non-habitual movement patterns. Some lessons are very dynamic, including large movements like rolling. Other lessons are quiet; interested in small and subtle actions that are explored in various positions like lying on the ground. All classes value restorative movement ideas like: taking rest & doing less than you can.
This class environment prioritizes comfort, pleasure, and following your instincts. This somatic movement class considers Feldenkrais Method as a tool for movement awareness and as a springboard into improvisational practice. Perfect class for performers, artists, and the movement-curious! All Welcome!
Duration: 1 hour 30
Please bring: A Quilt / Blanket & Socks
Photo Credit: Michael Bell
Johanna Bundon is an independent artist whose practice includes dance and theatre performance, choreography, and teaching. She has been working in the field of movement arts for over 15 years. A 2005 graduate of LADMMI (Les Ateliers de Danse Moderne de Montréal), a 2008 graduate of the Globe Theatre’s Actor Conservatory, and holds a BA in Arts & Culture from the University of Regina. As a choreographer, Johanna’s work has been presented across Western Canada through the Prairie Dance Circuit and as a part of the National Arts Centre’s Prairie Scene. Johanna has been instructing Yoga and Somatic studies since 2006. She is recently sharing her work in Feldenkrais since graduating from San Diego 4 Feldenkrais Professional Training Program (2020). Johanna is an Authorized Awareness Through Movement® teacher. www.johannabundon.com
12-1:30 PM | Tia Kushniruk | Contemporary floorwork
JULY 21
Join us for community classes + workshops!
11 AM-12 PM | All ages community class | Garba with Shrina Patel
Step into the vibrant rhythms and cultural richness of Garba with Shrina Patel, a seasoned Gujarati Garba instructor. Discover its rhythmic tapestry, cultural richness, intricate footwork, and lively beats. You can expect to learn the foundations of this dance form, including its cultural significance, all while having fun and getting a little sweaty! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, join our inclusive classes for a joyful journey of clapping, jumping, and twirling in a supportive and festive atmosphere. Dress comfortably, bring a skirt if you have one, and get ready to clap, jump, and twirl your way into the heart of this festive dance tradition! DM @shaktiflowyeg for a skirt!
Shrina Patel (she/they) is a South Asian, Gujarati dance artist, choreographer, playwright and actor. She lovingly creates with the philosophy of Wahkohtowin and currently resides in Amiskwacîwâskahikan Edmonton, Alberta.
A 2023 recipient of the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes award for her choreography work in the category of Outstanding Artistic Achievement for Younger Audiences, she has set herself apart as a performance artist who consistently flourishes in groundbreaking spaces and in collaborations with Citadel Theatre, Roxy Theatre, Alberta Musical Theatre Company and Alberta Theatre Projects.
Since 2022, Shrina has been crafting digital narratives that connect and engage audiences, bringing the works of Postmarginal to the social media forefront. She specializes in marketing, social media, and content creation for the theatre and arts industry.
12-1:30 PM | All ages community class | Salsa Fusion with Cuban Movements, Leo Gonzalez
Born and raised in Havana, Leo was selected to study at the prestigious National College of Art and Music Shows in Havana, where he became a professional dancer and choreographer with extensive knowledge of traditional Cuban and international dances, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Haitian, ballet and contemporary.
2-4 PM | Introduction to lighting design for choreographers with T. Erin Gruber
Ever wanted to find a collaborator to realize a vivid visual landscape to augment your choreography? Curious about ways that lighting supports and elevates the physical virtuosity of dancers? In this two hour workshop we will explore what a lighting designer can bring to your piece, how they can fit into your process, and how to communicate your ideas to them and their technical colleagues.
This hands on workshop takes place in the Mile Zero warehouse on the first weekend of the festival. Participants will not only have the opportunity to hear from celebrated scenographer/designer T. Erin Gruber, but will also get to explore practical examples and test ideas with the full festival lighting rig.
5-6 PM | Community class | Kathak choreography with Soni Dasmohapatra
Kathak is a classical dance from India. Heera Mandi is a Netflix series created by a famous Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The song Sakal Ban is a 700 year old poem that has been recreated in the series as a beautiful Kathak dance rendition.
In this class Soni will teach basic Kathak techniques and review the Natya Shastra. The participants will learn a short choreography to the first minute of the song.
WEEK TWO
JULY 22
10-11:30 AM | Jason Romero | Contemporary Jazz
working with grooves, musicality and isolation as well as full body movements that take us in and out of the floor we will be working with various phrases that really move and challenge our retention, technique and agility. Class geared more towards intermediate-advanced Dancers but everyone is welcome and everyone will be accommodated.
12-1:30 PM | Afroduetix | Lagos Groove
Afroduetix is a dynamic dance duo consisting of Àshe and Obi, Nigerian dancers from Lagos, currently living and sharing their art in Edmonton. They bring the vibrant rhythms of Afrobeats to life through captivating performances, showcasing the beauty and power of Afro music and dance.
JULY 23
10-11:30 AM | Gerry Morita | Contact improvisation
Originally from rural Saskatchewan, Gerry Morita (BA Dance/ MFA Theatre. She has lived and worked in Vancouver, Montréal, and Tokyo as a dancer, choreographer, performance artist and teacher before moving to Edmonton and becoming Mile Zero Dance’s Artistic Director in 2006. Her work has toured Poland, Turkey, Estonia, Canada, and Japan.
Morita’s body of work involves continuous inquiry into new ways of seeing movement, the body, and the spaces between us. She studies and teaches contact improvisation, Noguchi Taiso and other somatic-based and improvising techniques, working with artists from all disciplines in a vast array of both conventional and site-specific venues. She has received the Mayor’s Award for Innovation in Artistic Direction, the Edmonton Salute for Excellence, Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund and was one of Alberta’s 25 Influential Artists recognized in 2016.
12-1:30 PM | Jane Ogilvie | Flamenco rhythm and body percussion
Jane Ogilvie has been a flamenco performer, choreographer, teacher, and leader in the Edmonton arts community since 2001. For over 25 years she has trained extensively with prominent Spanish artists giving her an in-depth understanding of flamenco dance, song, rhythm, and musical structure. Known for her rhythmic experimentation and precision, she has collaborated with professional flamenco artists from across Canada. Jane regularly returns to Spain to further her artistic development. Most recently, for an intensive month of study in July 2023. Jane was the Edmonton Flamenco Festival’s co-founder and Artistic Director, bringing renowned Spanish artists to the Winspear stage, and featuring workshops, flashmobs, and guest Canadian artists for fundraiser performances. She is a 2023 recipient of the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award. Supported by the Edmonton Arts Council and the Edmonton Community Foundation, this award is dedicated to the artistic development of Edmonton artists.
JULY 24
10-11:30 AM | Marynia Fekecz | Endless Exploration of the Body Inspired by Fighting Monkey
Marynia Fekecz-Mangan is a Polish-born and educated (Poznań School of Social Sciences in Poznań, Poland) dancer, performer, choreographer, teacher, and producer based in Edmonton. She has collaborated with several dance ensembles and festivals including Kokyu Studio of the Grotowski’s Institute, Calgary’s W&M Physical Theatre, Alberta Dance Festival, Edmonton’s Good Women Dance Collective and Harcourt House Artist Run Centre (project “Transportation” for the Harcourt House’s Alberta Culture Days 2022 with Kate Stashko, Tatiana Warszynski, and Shawn Pinchbeck), as well as individual artists and choreographers: Nicole Charlton Goodbrand, Davida Monk, Melissa Monteros, Wojciech Mochniej, Anna Krysiak, and Przemysław Błaszczak, among many others.
12-1:30 PM | Josh Martin, Company 605 | Bound Flow
This class involves examples of Company 605’s movement vocabulary and improvisational prompts from current repertoire. Combining
JULY 25
10-11:30 AM | Josh Martin, Company 605 | Bound Flow
This class involves examples of Company 605’s movement vocabulary and improvisational prompts from current repertoire. Combining
12-1:30 PM | Aly Keita | Doundounba Workshop
JULY 26
10-11:30 AM | Aly Keita | Doundounba workshop
12-1:30 PM | Eric Awuah | West African Dance Basics
FESTIVAL TICKETS
FESTIVAL PASS | $80 all access pass to shows, classes and workshops
SHOW | $25/$20 MZD Members
CLASS | $15/class
ARTIST TALK | FREE