EDAM'sImprovisation
Symposium

Nov

13th
14th
19th
20th
'98

EDAM IMPROVISATION SYMPOSIUM
November 9-21, 1998
•

•

daily morning classes
• open rehearsals
free workshops with NEW ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP
• perf onnances

The EDAM Improvisation Symposium is an intensive investigation of the
art of improvisation. Two improvisational ensembles have been set up to
work together. In the first ensemble, Peter Bingham, EDAM's Artistic
Director, is joined by American dance artists Nancy Stark Smith, Chris
Aiken and Ray Chung and NOW Artistic Directors Ron Samworth and
Coat Cooke. The second ensemble is made up of Vancouver dancers Anne
Cooper, Susan Elliott, Chantal Deeble, Kathleen McDonagh and musicians
Andre Lachance and Dylan van der Schyff. Together these two groups
have been exploring scores, structures and ideas about improvising. In this
evening's performance you willsee both of these groups as they continue
their explorations of the performance potential of improvisation.

1HECAST
Group A
Chris Aiken, Peter Bingham, Coat Cooke, Ray Chung, Ron Samworth and
Nancy Stark Smith

GroupB
Anne Cooper, Chantal Deeble, Susan Elliott, Andre Lachance, Kathleen
McDonagh and Dylan van der Schyff
,:-,:Every night an announcementwill be made to inform you of which group will
perform first. ,:-,:-

A specialthank you to the VancouverFoundationfor its generousassistancewith
our studio upgradingprogram.
This project was made possible through the assistanceof ArtsFACT,the Arts
Foundationto AssistCanadianTalent,a Culturalinitiativeof QM/FM.

CHRIS AIKEN has practiced and performed the art of dance
improvisation for the past 20 years. His training includes contact,
compositional improvisation, authentic movement, release techniques and
action theatre. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and choreographic
partner, Cathy Young, and his two year old daughter Lucy.

PETER BINGHAM has been teaching and performing dance and
Contact Improvisation for 23 years. Many of Peter's choreographed works
have been presented at theatres and festivals across Canada. In addition to
making his own choreography, Peter has an extensive career as an
improviser, performing throughout the world at various theatres and
festivals. He is the Artistic Director of EDAM.

RAY CHUNG has researched, performed and taught improvisational
dance and Contact Improvisation since 1979. Ray integrates other
movement forms into his dance including martial arts, bodywork and
authentic movement. His work has been featured at the New York, San
Francisco and Seattle Improvisation festivals and he has performed in
many evenings of dance at theatres throughout the San Francisco Bay area.
Currently based in Berkeley, California, Ray spends much of his time
teaching at workshops and festivals throughout Europe and the United
States.

COAT COOKE is a composer/saxophonist based in Vancouver for over
20 years. He is co-artistic director of the New Orchestra Workshop
Society (NOW), and is the founder and co-leader of the NOW Orchestra.
He has CDs available for sale after the show.

ANNE COOPER - Anne grew up on Vancouver Island and trained in
ballet there and in Winnipeg before studying modem dance, contact
improv and theatre. She has performed with Danse Partout in Quebec
City, and in Vancouver with EDAM, DanStaBat, Lola MacLaughlin Dance,
Karen Jamieson Dance, Harvey Meller among others, as well as creating
her own work when time allows. She loves to improvise and is happy to
be a part of this symposium.

. d, taught andp erforme.d a cross Cana da,
e Holy
CHANTAL DEEBLE ha s trame ha s been a estart
gu _ ist Wl"th th
in Ne w york and internationally. She
d the
an
r wit h EDAM
any m em be
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p
a
wa
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r:=
Body Tatt<:o smce 1995,
rm wo rking relationships
ains lo ng te
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K a ren Jamieson �omp an yand
to return to
.
MacK enz1e. It s a pleas ur e
s
with Joe Laughlin an� Suan
EDAM for this symposmm.

t;f

uver
co
989, Susan has been a Var_i
SUSAN ELLIOTT • Since 1
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m N ew
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ha trained here a s we as
p r ofess .i onal dance artist- She
es include
di
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or
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et.
Barcelona, Amst er am
d ce, yoga,• martial artsand ball
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en her to such p lac
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Kuala Lumpur, Mon?"eal '. O tta
s been a
em B.C. Susan ha
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on
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s
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St-John,
rking a s an mte1:Preter,
r of ED. AM s in ce 1990 wo
comp�y m em be
posium.
uge thrill to be apart of this sym
improviser and tea cher. I t i s• a h
N

bassist Andre
Originally from Quebec City,
ANDRE IACHANCE
r 6 years no w.
he Vancouver mus ic scene fo
L achance has been busy on t . . on national r adio and televis ion and
e
o�s
ugall,
o
He ha s been feature d numer
r
B ra d Turner Quartet Ian McD
t
e
l
p
the Hard Rubbe� O rchestra and
has recorded and/ or ay d wi rh �
V aug an,
L ee Konitz, Kate Hammetteam ong o thers .
ud
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F rench gm.tan" st Christian
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d her
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GH
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KATHLEEN McDONA
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ainland nursin ho
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and
City
k
J::: ilie tra veled to Jew yor
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sever� years m _son
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or
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contribute d he r rtist
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to new dance. She a s sm�
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at
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ah
anStaB , Debor Dunn, EDAM '.
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orvaldso n. She i s ha
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of imp rovisati on.
t:be involved in this Symp osium
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RON SAMWORTH is a high profile presence on the Vancouver
improvised / contemporary music scene. His multi-disciplinary work
includes composition, performance, s ound design for theatre, spoken
word, film, and a longtime collaboration with EDAM. Ron co-leads the
NOW Orchestra and his o wn group Talking Pictures, and is a sideman in
vocalist Kate Hammett-Vaughan's quartet and the Hard Rubber Orchestra.
He is also a longtime member and current co-artistic director of the New
Orchestra Workshop Society (NOW).
NANCY STARK SMITH is a pioneer of Contact Improvisation - she
participated in the initial performances of this dance form in 1972. Since
then, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada,
Europe and elsewhere teaching and performing Contact and related
dance/ movement work at universities, art centres, theatres, workshops and
festivals including annual residencies at Naropa Institute, The School for
New Dance Development in Amsterdam and Movement Research in New
York. In addition to her own teaching and performing, Nancy has created
many choreographed/ structured solo and group works. In 1975, she co­
founded Contact Quarterly, a contemporary dance journal s he continues to
co-edit and produce with Lisa Nelson. She lives in western Massachusetts.
DYIAN VAN DER SCHYFF Born in Johannesburg, South Africa,
drummer Dylan van der Schyff lives in Vancouver and is a busy member
of the local music community. On t he local scene he works often with
Talking Pictures, Tony Wilson, Paul Plimley, New Orchestra Workshop
and Brad Tumer among many others. Dylan also plays with many visiting
artists in concert and recording situations (B arry Guy, George Lewis,
Michael Moore, Georg Graewe, Myra Melford, Dave Douglas, Evan
Parker, Butch Morris, Andy Laster, Vinny Golia ... ). He has also toured in
Europe, U.S.A. and Canada and has appeared on National Public Radio
(U.S.A.), CBC Radio and Tdevision (CANADA) and Austrian Tdevision.
N

,:-,:-,c If you are int:erestad in nx:ewmg information arout our upaming
peiformaru:es, classes and int.ensi-i-e, add yourself ro our mailing list by leaving
your name and address in the little book available at the concession. ,:-,:-,:-

The EDAM Company
Artistic Director: Peter Bingham
General Manager: Mona Hamill
Technical Director, EDAM Theatre: Robert Meister
Front of House Coordinator, EDAM Theatre: Valerie Lajoie
EDAM is a modern dance company dedicated to the development of new
directions in dance.
EDAM would like to take this opportunity to thank the Western Front, Chris
Randle, Peter Kratoska of Eagle Ridge Press and allof our volunteers for their
assistance~th this production.
EDAM gratefully acknowledges the
financial assistance of the Dance
Section, Canada Council; the Province
of BC through the BC Arts Council;
the City of Vancouver, Office of
Cultural Affairs; the Vancouver
Foundation and QM/FM ArtsFACT.

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THE BRUTAL TELLING
November 25 - 28 8 pm
Choreography: Jennifer Mascall Live music: Veda Hille & band
Direction: Penelope Stella Performers: Marthe Leonard & Olivia Thorvaldson

For ticket information call The Firehall Arts Centre: 689-0926