BJM_360
Conceived and led by our Artistic Director, Alexandra Damiani, BJM_360 is a multidisciplinary program designed for 15-25-year-old dancers that addresses not only the artistic components necessary in comprehensive training but also the ancillary skills needed to maintain balance and have a career.
The intensive provides dancers with an intimate and singular opportunity to be challenged and nurtured directly by the Ballets Jazz Montréal artistic team thus allowing young artists interested in the contemporary dance field to experience company life firsthand. By working in this way, we aim to create meaningful links between the participants and the Ballets Jazz Montreal dancers, Rehearsal Director, and Artistic Director.
During the intensive, participants will be divided into two groups based on age and experience in order for us to provide individual and personalized attention. Each group will have daily classes in ballet, improvisation, and repertoire as well as Primal Movement, Qigong, and complementary seminars with distinguished and knowledgeable guests. This innovative and comprehensive approach allows the participants to expand their movement knowledge and learn tools that will not only be useful as dancers but also in day-to-day life.
MISSION
To provide a transformative, holistic dance experience where young artists are encouraged and mentored physically, emotionally, and artistically.
ABOUT BJM_360
Dancers are beautiful and complex beings with incredible instruments – their minds and body. Supple yet strong, focused yet playful, determined yet curious, driven yet open. When pushed to the extreme or when working without the proper support or guidance, however, the instrument can get out of tune and even break down.
To reach their potential and develop healthy habits, all dancers need a safe and positive environment where they can build a solid foundation based on a well-rounded education about their body-mind-spirit instrument and where they can create ties with mentors who can guide them.
Who better to bring this vision to life than Artistic Director Alexandra Damiani, whose approach and movement vocabulary combines the sophistication of her early classical training with the edginess and experimentation of contemporary dance and cross-training techniques like qigong, taiji, tai yin, and Primal Movement.
Sought after teacher and mentor, Alexandra has brought her expertise to the cinema, commercials, festivals, and international dance venues. In 2015, she directed the summer program at Jacob’s Pillow, and for the past 8 years, she has been the Artistic Director of New York City Dance Alliance Foundation’s Winter Intensive held at the Juilliard School in New York City.
During her decade-long tenure at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, both as ballet master and artistic director, Damiani worked alongside and curated works by the most sought-after contemporary dance choreographers in the world. She also acquired an expansive understanding of a wide range of movement languages created by leading contemporary choreographers and has been invited to re-stage works by Crystal Pite and Jo Stromgren.
Combining her rich dance background with an enthusiasm for directing dancers in varying philosophies of movement, Damiani is frequently invited to conduct master classes in the U.S and around the world with such dance institutions as The Juilliard School, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, Princeton University dance program and Ballet Junior of Geneva, Switzerland.
For many years, Damiani’s interest and passion for the ineffable power nestled in the body have driven her to study and teach the ancient sacred movements of qi gong, taiji (classical Yang long form), and tai yin Jade Maiden under the guidance of Sat Chuen Hon as well as strengthening and cross-training practices like pilates and Primal Movement.
We at Ballets Jazz Montreal value rigor and passion alongside open dialogue, conversation, and curiosity. We feel a strong desire to give access to our dance knowledge as well as integrate complementary practices into daily habits and artistic activities.
And this is what BJM_360 is about – sharing all of this with young dancers who aspire to become professionals.
Details
WHEN
August 5-9, 2024
WHERE
Gaston-Miron Building
1210 Sherbrooke Street East
Montreal, Quebec H2L 1L9
COST
$750 (plus tax)
How to apply
Ballets Jazz Montréal is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to citizenship, ethnicity, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. We encourage everyone to apply.
To apply, you must be between 15 and 25 years old and send the following documents.
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A portrait
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A CV
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Dance video
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Signed waiver form ( Download here )
DEADLINE TO APPLY: The deadline has passed for the 2024 session.
To prevent any communication from accidentally being delivered to a spam or junk folder, please add our Artistic Coordinator, Andrew Mikhaiel, to your contact list. His email address is amikhaiel@bjmdanse.ca.
In addition, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Andrew via email.
Thank you for your application and interest in BJM_360!