Playbill

Rubberband: Vic's Mix

Overview

With both humorous and serious moments, Vic’s Mix is a kind of “best of” spanning the immense creative territory explored by Quijada, extracting jewels from the choreographer’s repertoire. In a remix of his own work, orchestrating the clash between urban pop and classical composition, Quijada goes further in his experiments defying notions of theatricality and audience expectations, while making sure that each body gravitating onstage in the highly athletic segments exemplifies the RUBBERBAND Method.

Vic’s Mix is a RUBBERBAND production supported by Festival international DansEncore, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and the Ontario Arts Council. The premiere of Vic’s Mix took place in June 2016 as part of the Festival International DansEncore in the Salle Anaïs-Allard-Rousseau of the Maison de la Culture in Trois-Rivières.

Duration: 70 minutes

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER: VICTOR QUIJADA

VICTOR QUIJADA

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER

Since 2002, Victor Quijada and RUBBERBAND have not only redefined break dance codes within an institutional context and enlivened the Quebec dance scene, but have opened the way for new creators fascinated by this dance form. Armed with a technique he conceived for dancers, the RUBBERBAND Method – an electrifying vocabulary combining the energy of Hip Hop, the refinement of classical ballet, and the angular quality of contemporary dance – and some 40 creations and collaborations in Canada and abroad behind him, Victor Quijada has always continued to evolve and innovate throughout his prolific career.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, the child of Mexican parents, Victor first danced in the b-boying circles and hip-hop clubs of his native city. He performed with Rudy Perez from 1994 to 1996, then moved to New York City to join THARP! After spending three years with that company and following a stint with Ballets Tech, in 2000 he came to Montreal to join Les Grands Ballets canadiens. In 2002, he founded RUBBERBAND, throwing himself into deconstructing the choreographic principles he had learned by blending them with the raw ideology of his street dance origins. His creations – numerous short works and 14 full-length productions – are distinguished by a powerful theatricality, the energy of improvisation, and certain codes of film language, the whole sculpted with an incomparable precision of movement.

For several years now, Victor has taught the RUBBERBAND Method throughout the world in workshops and internships for many dance companies, dance schools, and universities, as well as on a yearly basis in RBDG’s workshop for professional dancers; at the Académie du Domaine Forget in Charlevoix every summer; and in his classes at the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California (USC). As guest choreographer, he has created new works for dance and circus companies; notably in return commissions for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Scottish Dance Theatre.

Besides his stage productions, Victor has been involved in almost a dozen dance films, as director, choreographer, or dramaturge. His short film, Hasta La Próxima, was a finalist at the American Choreography Awards in 2004. He also choreographed the music videos Man I Used to Be by k-os, La garde by Alexandre Désilets, and Elton John’s Blue Wonderful. His Gravity of Center – The Movie won Best Experimental Short at the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival of 2012, among other awards, and was shown at several exhibitions and national and international festivals.

In the area of peer recognition, Victor Quijada was artist-in-residence at Usine C (2004 and 2006) and at Place des Arts (2007-2011), and has won many awards, including Britain’s National Dance Award for Outstanding Modern Repertory (2003), the Bonnie Bird North American Award (2003, U.K.), the Peter Darrell Choreography Award (2003, U.K.), the International Touring Award of the Canadian Dance Alliance (2012), and two awards from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA (Choreography Fellowship, 2010; Work in Progress Residency, 2016).

In December 2017, Victor Quijada received the award for cultural diversity at the Prix de la danse de Montréal and was, in 2019, one of the finalists for the 34th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal as well as among the four finalists for the 2019 Charles-Biddle Prize, instigated by Culture pour tous and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation and Inclusion (MIFI).

Crew

Dancers

Brontë Poiré-Prest

Brontë Poiré-Prest hails from Montreal. She fell in love with the art of movement at L’École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, where she had the good fortune to collaborate with renowned choreographers Angélique Willkie, Hélène Blackburn, and Alan Lake, among others. After graduating, she was invited to work at several well-established companies in Montreal, including Van Grimde Corps Secrets and Le Carré des Lombes, and as a freelancer for Compagnie Marie Chouinard. Brontë joined RUBBERBAND in 2018.

Brontë Poiré-Prest est originaire de Montréal, au Québec. Elle est tombée amoureuse de l'art du mouvement à l'École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, où elle a eu la chance de travailler et de collaborer avec des chorégraphes de renom tels que Angélique Willkie, Hélène Blackburn et Alan Lake. À la sortie de l'école, elle a été invitée à travailler avec plusieurs compagnies bien établies de Montréal comme Van Grimde Corps Secrets, Le Carré des Lombes et comme pigiste pour la Compagnie Marie Chouinard. Poiré-Prest a rejoint RUBBERBAND en 2018.

Daniela Jezerinac

Daniela Jezerinac was born in Mississauga, Ontario, where she began her dance training at a local studio. While continuing to pursue her artistic career at Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, she performed several works by José Limón, Colin Connor, and Robert Glumbek. In the fall of 2019, she completed her BFA in Dance at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, where she had the honour of performing pieces choreographed by Kevin Wynn, Alexandra Beller, and Hannah Garner. Daniela joined RUBBERBAND in 2018.

Daniela Jezerinac est originaire de Mississauga, en Ontario, où elle a commencé sa formation en danse dans un studio local. Tout en poursuivant sa carrière artistique au Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, elle a interprété plusieurs œuvres de José Limón, Colin Connor et Robert Glumbek. Elle a fréquenté le conservatoire de danse du Purchase College de New York où elle a terminé ses études à l'automne 2019 avec un BFA en danse. Elle a eu l'honneur d'interpréter des pièces chorégraphiées par

Kevin Wynn, Alexandra Beller et Hannah Garner. Jezerinac a rejoint RUBBERBAND en 2018.

Emma-Lynn Mackay-Ronacher

Emma-Lynn Mackay-Ronacher resides from small town Kemptville, Ontario, where she started dancing at a local studio before moving to Montreal at the age of 14, to continue her training at L’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. She graduated at the age of 19, after five years in the professional program where she trained in classical and contemporary dance. Upon graduation, Emma began freelancing for renowned choreographers and companies, such as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Anne Plamondon Productions, Gioconda Barbuto and Veronique Giasson, among others. Emma-Lynn joined RUBBERBAND in 2021.

Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui

Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui was born in Miami, Florida, and began his formal dance training in Bogotá, Colombia, at the age of 15 under the direction of Jaime Otálora. Later, he attended George Mason University where he received the Kidd/Stearns Dance Talent Scholarship and graduated with a BFA in Dance in 2020. He has attended workshops with RUBBERBAND, VIM VIGOR, David Dorfman Dance and Springboard Danse Montreal under the direction of Alexandra Wells - where he performed work by Lior Lazarof and Johannes Wieland. After graduating in 2020, Jovick moved to New York City where he was an apprentice with David Dorfman Dance. In his time in NYC, he also performed with VIM VIGOR and collaborated with other New York based artists such as Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Robert Rubama, and Cameron McKinney of Kizuna Dance. Jovick relocated to Montreal in 2021 to join RUBBERBAND.

Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui est né à Miami, en Floride, et a commencé sa formation officielle de danse à Bogotá, en Colombie, à l'âge de 15 ans sous la direction de Jaime Otálora. Plus tard, il a fréquenté

l'Université George Mason où il a reçu la bourse de talent en danse Kidd / Stearns et il y a obtenu en 2020 un baccalauréat en beaux-arts spécialisé en danse. Jovick a suivi des ateliers de RUBBERBAND, de VIM VIGOR, de David Dorfman Dance ainsi que de Springboard Danse Montréal où, sous la direction d'Alexandra Wells, il a interprété des œuvres de Lior Lazarof et Johannes Wieland. Après l’obtention de son diplôme en 2020, Jovick déménage à New York où il devient apprenti avec la compagnie David Dorfman Dance. Pendant son séjour à New York, il s’est produit avec VIM VIGOR et a collaboré avec d'autres artistes établis à New York tels que Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Robert Rubama et Cameron McKinney de Kizuna Dance. Jovick s’est installé à Montréal en 2021 pour se joindre à RUBBERBAND.

Ryan Taylor

Ryan Taylor established his roots in dance through the hip-hop culture of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Nurtured by Bad Taste Cru, he joined Battalions Crew in 2013 and competed throughout Europe. Training under Akram Kahn with the National Youth Dance Company inspired him to continue his exploration at

London Contemporary Dance School, where he worked with Hofesh Shechter, Dane Hurst, and Jeannie Steele, among other artists. At the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he performed with the James Cousins Company in Rosalind, which won Best Moment of the Festival. Ryan is starting his third year with RUBBERBAND after joining the company in 2018.

Ryan Taylor a développé ses aptitudes en danse à travers la culture hip hop de Newcastle upon Tyne, en Angleterre. Nourri par la Bad Taste Crew, il intègre le Battalions crew en 2013 et compétitionne à travers l'Europe. Sa formation sous Akram Kahn avec la National Youth Dance Company l'inspire à poursuivre son exploration à la London Contemporary Dance School, en travaillant, entre autres, avec des artistes tels que Hofesh Shechter, Dane Hurst, Jeannie Steele. Il interprète Rosalind de la James Cousins Company au Festival Fringe d’Édimbourgh, remportant le prix du meilleur moment du festival. Ryan entame maintenant sa troisième année avec la compagnie puisqu’il s’est joint à RUBBERBAND 2018.

Wyeth Walker

Wyeth Walker grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he began his training under Denise Wall. This led him to attend the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, where he was able to study with and perform work by Peter Chu, Barak Marshall, Jermaine Spivey, and William Forsythe, among others. After graduating in 2022, Wyeth attended Springboard Danse Montreal. He joined RUBBERBAND in 2022.

Wyeth Walker a grandi à Virginia Beach, en Virginie, où il a commencé sa formation auprès de Denise Wall. Cela l'a amené à fréquenter l'USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, où il a pu étudier et interpréter des œuvres de Peter Chu, Barak Marshall, Jermaine Spivey et William Forsythe, entre autres. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme en 2022, Wyeth a participé à Springboard Danse Montréal. Il s'est joint à RUBBERBAND en 2022.

Zao Dinel

Born in Montreal, Zao Dinel grew up in a family of six that valued sports as well as art. He was home schooled, allowing him to practice men's artistic gymnastics, swimming and sailing at a competitive level, while studying violin at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal until he was introduced to dance. In 2012, he began his professional training at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec and fell in love with dance. Zao is curious, observant and very social. He is full of energy, great enthusiasm and always ready for a challenge, whether it is a new dance style or repertoire he has never experienced. He is driven by three important passions - music, dance and film - and has a strong sense of collaboration. Thus, he finds pleasure in surrounding himself with artists from various disciplines for improvisations or creations. It was during the 2022 edition of Springboard Danse Montréal that Zao was exposed to the repertoire of RUBBERBAND, which he joined in 2022.

Né à Montréal, Zao Dinel a grandi dans une famille de six valorisant l’activité sportive ainsi que l’art. Il est scolarisé à la maison, lui permettant de pratiquer la gymnastique artistique masculine, la natation et la voile au niveau compétitif, parallèlement à ses études en violon au Conservatoire de musique de Montréal jusqu’à être introduit à la danse. En 2012, il commence sa formation professionnelle à l’École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec et tombe en amour avec la danse. Zao est curieux, observateur et très social. Il est plein d’énergie, d’un grand enthousiasme et toujours prêt pour un défi, que ce soit un nouveau style de danse ou du répertoire qu’il n’a jamais expérimenté. Il est animé par trois importantes passions — la musique, la danse et le cinéma — et muni d’un sens aigu de collaboration. Ainsi, il trouve son plaisir en s’entourant d’artistes de diverses disciplines pour des improvisations ou des créations. C’est au cours de l’édition 2022 de Springboard Danse Montréal que Zao est exposé au répertoire de RUBBERBAND, qu’il rejoint en 2022.

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