By Stephanie Wolf.

Since its launch in 2002, Aszure Barton & Artists has astounded audiences with its innovative productions. Performing the dynamic choreography of its artistic leader, Aszure Barton, the evocative troupe continues to carve out its own space in the vast genre of contemporary dance with an ambitious fall schedule that will take the company to three different countries and highlight two of Barton’s exploratory works.

With featured works for some of the world’s most reputable dance companies as well as original choreography for Broadway, film and television, installation projects, and special outreach initiatives, Barton has earned international acclaim as an artist on her own accord. Her accolades are impressive, including the Banff Centre’s 2012 Koerner Award for Choreography, and she is the Official Ambassador of Contemporary Choreography in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. But her progressive company of artists offers her the opportunity to delve in even deeper to her artistic vision, allowing for a more intimate atmosphere and extensive collaboration with other artistic disciplines.

Aszure Barton. Photo by George Lange

Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, Barton began her journey with movement as a young child. She received her formal training at the prestigious National Ballet School in Toronto and, from early on, her choreographic voice began to take shape. “I choreographed when I was a child and then started showing the work publicly on stage at fifteen at the National Ballet School,” she says. Barton has always loved both moving and making movement, but she sites choreographing as her “deepest passion” and most “fulfilling form of communication.”

A number of different artists inspire Barton choreographically, including Brahms, Gene Kelly, and Samuel Becket, to name a few. But it’s clear that her dancers and collaborators are a highly integral part of the creative process. She is drawn to dancers who exhibit “honesty, commitment and trust” as well as an interest and willingness to collaborate. She finds artists in “many different ways,” and is thankful “there are so many incredible dancers in the world.” When describing the aesthetic of her company and the style of her movement, Barton uses adjectives like “constant evolution, heart-driven, fun, [and] sensitive.” Yet, her process is not defined by any specifics and varies from piece to piece.

Awáa by Aszure Barton & Artists. Photo by Kim Williams

This fall, ten dancers and a team of twelve collaborators will join Barton and embark on an international tour, which will take the ensemble of artists to Austria, Arizona, and numerous cities across Canada. The troupe will present two of Barton’s collaborative works, Awáa and Busk.

Awáa, one of Barton’s more recent works, received its European premiere in October in Austria. With an “original sound score” designed by Lev “Ljova” Zhurbin and Curtis Macdonald, Barton says the piece “considers the hard and the soft, the curved and the sharp memories of the feminine…the work has everything to do with the artists involved and the time spent creating together.” With a continuously developing and evolving artistic outlook, Barton hopes the piece will offer something new and engaging for its viewers and participants. “I am a strong believer in allowing the dance to speak for itself and I hope that each person present will have their own individual experience with no imposed limitations.”

Tobin Del Cuore and Lara Barclay perform in Awáa. Photo by Kim Williams

Creating Awáa involved a three-month process at the Banff Centre in Canada. During this time, Barton and her team of artists constructed each element of the work: music, film, lighting, costumes, and movement. “Everything was created simultaneously in residence. It was a dense and very intense process. The artists worked their [butts] off, and I am very proud of what we accomplished together.”

Barton says touring plays a “significant role” in the company. However, she stresses that “creation and process” are truly at its core. As the company and her commissions continue to grow, Barton maintains her humbleness and gratitude towards her collaborators and supporters. Her ambitions are unpretentious, candid, and to the point. In the coming years, she plans “to continue creating with fantastic people.” When asked what is on the horizon for her choreographically, she replies simply, “lots of creation.”

Aszure Barton is going to be awarded Canada’s Arts & Letters Award in November at the Maple Ball in NYC.

Top photo: AB&A’s Awáa – Aszure Barton by George Lange.

By Katherine Moore

Established in 1978 and currently under the direction of Chan Han Goh, the former Prima Ballerina of the National Ballet of Canada, the Goh Ballet Academy is one of the premier dance institutions in Vancouver for ballet. With wide-ranging educational programming and performances, Goh Ballet plays an integral part in Vancouver’s dance scene, as well as in the international ballet community.

Not only does Goh Ballet provide high-caliber, classical ballet training for ages 4 and up, but they also offer educational outreach classes and performances throughout the Vancouver area. These programs help educate and create a solid, family-oriented audience for Goh Ballet’s biggest production of the year, The Nutcracker, which they just presented during the Christmas season.

Artistic Director Goh said, “The Nutcracker is a family-oriented production; we aim to make the show appealing to the whole family. The show is full of classical ballet for dance enthusiasts, heart-warming comedy and acting, and delightful costumes and scenery, so this production really suits all ages.”

Goh Ballet Academy's "The Nutcracker" 2011

In addition to being family-friendly, Goh’s production of The Nutracker is both professional and collaborative. Using over 200 performers of all ages, Goh brings together ballet dancers, gymnasts, magicians, acrobats, ballroom dancers, and even untrained people to create a magical performance with full sets, costumes, and lighting.

This past production, Goh Ballet brought guest dancers Michele Wiles and Corey Stearns from ABT into the mix. Goh felt fortunate to have principal dancers from New York City in their production.

“They bring top-class performance to our stage and inspire our entire performance team, ” she said.

Goh Ballet’s commitment to professionalism and cultural exchange does not end with The Nutcracker. It extends throughout the year with the training of young ballet students, especially through their comprehensive 4-week International Summer Intensive.

Every summer, Goh Ballet attracts diverse students from all over the world, including the USA, China, Japan, and Brazil, in addition to local students in Vancouver and other parts of Canada. While the program focuses primarily on classical ballet technique and partnering, Goh Ballet also believes it is important for dance students to gain exposure to other dance and movement forms, such as contemporary, musical theater, and pilates, in order to succeed in the dance world.

Similarly, Goh Ballet brings in an internationally-renowned faculty to teach during the intensive, making it an alluring program to young dancers. Emily Grace Simpson, a former participant of the summer intensive, said that this, in conjunction with the variety of dance styles taught, was instrumental in her decision to attend the intensive.

“[The] teachers are sought after around the world, and many of them are dancers that students look up to and admire. This inspires young dancers to keep going until they are able to achieve their own dreams,” Simpson said.

Students’ dreams are clearly at the forefront of Goh Ballet’s mission as they educate students in their Academy and the Goh Ballet Youth Company, which just returned from a tour in China. International exposure is a crucial element to a Goh Ballet professional education, and Goh even encourages students to do international exchanges in other programs to gain this experience.

“Our goal is to give students the tools and knowledge to become the best dancers they can be,” said Goh.
 
For students and audiences alike, Goh Ballet supports classical ballet at its best: high-caliber dance performance and training within a culturally-enriched, global community.

Photos: David Cooper Photography, courtesy of the Goh Ballet.