Next Stage 2024 Program
Next Stage features the George Brown Dance graduating Commercial Dance students performing Jazz, Hip Hop, Dance Theatre, Chorus Repertoire, Contemporary, Vocal Works and the premiere of their Dance Film. (PG 13)
JULY 25 & 26
CITADEL THEATRE, TORONTO, ON
Director: Jennifer Robichaud
Technical Director & Lighting Designer: Madhu Seran
Wardrobe: Stacey Gonder
Stage Management: Kathy Le
Acting Coach: Ryan Kelly
Vocal Direction & Vocal Arrangement: Andrew Ball
Production/Rehearsal Assistant: Mari Budgey
Artistic Administrator: Kia Kotsanis
Special thanks to Amanda Davis, Ryan Kelly, Christopher Knowles, Bo Lam, Cindy Macedo, and Marisa Ricci for their invaluable insight and feedback.
about george brown dance
George Brown Dance is a partnership between Jörgen Dance and George Brown College. The George Brown College Dance programs offer exceptional professional technical training in the heart of downtown Toronto. With hundreds of theatre, dance and production companies, Toronto offers extraordinary opportunities to aspiring performers. The unique leadership of Ballet Jörgen’s expert instructors graduates students with the skills, confidence and connections necessary for employment in a wide range of dance performance settings. Students and faculty have built a strong community that offers continuous support and encouragement at school and beyond. At George Brown Dance, expect to be empowered and challenged to fulfill your dance potential.
Message from the Associate Director
Welcome to George Brown Dance Next Stage 2024! We have successfully completed the final third semester in the Commercial Dance Performance Program and are pleased to present this culmination of work. Tonight you will be introduced to our next generation of graduates and see a diverse showcase with works created from our highly regarded faculty and guest artists. The George Brown Dance faculty is comprised of an outstanding team of instructors, working artists, choreographers and directors, who instill discipline and teach skills necessary to interpret the vision of others.
Each of the choreographers have generously committed themselves to the idea of a “company” setting, which enables the performers to experience the creative work process and environment of the professional world. Our students benefit tremendously from the unique approach and mentorship of the respective team.
I would like to thank each faculty member for their time, energy and inspiring work as they help the students to realize their potential and prepare for the future. My sincerest gratitude to Jennifer Robichaud for her passion and artistic enthusiasm in directing Next Stage 2024.
Enjoy this evening’s performance of Next Stage 2024!
Derek Sangster
Associate Director, George Brown Dance
INTRODUCING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GRADUATES:
NEXT STAGE
Running time: 1 hour
One
Choreographer: Nicola Pantin
Music: One from the musical A Chorus Line composed by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyricist: Edward Kleban
Live Accompaniment: Andrew Ball
Performers: Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera
You Know I’m No Good
Vocalist: Julia Germano
Music: You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse
Accompanist: Andrew Ball
Fame
Choreographer and Dancer: Katrina Matera
Music: Fame by David Bowie
Lanterns
Choreographer: Lindsay Aquin
Music: Lanterns Lit by Son Lux
Performers: *Danaca Bell, Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, *Veronica Villeneuve
Blooming
Choreographer: Kay-Ann Ward
Music: Alien Superstar by Beyoncé
Performers: Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera
l’envers
Choreographer: George Brown Alumni Karessann Juteau Mercier
Music: Migration Dreams by Bryce dessiner and Alejandro G. Iñárritu, ATI seven (decision duet) by Davidson Jaconello, Adagio in C minor ( sonysoundtracksvevo), Patterns by Christophe fillippi, Soul train by Par Ori Lichtik, Steve’s theme Aron Zigman
Performers: *Danaca Bell, *Holly Gill, *Rose Juliette Zambrano Quiroz, *Veronica Villeneuve
This creation first premiered in George Brown Dance’s Emergence 2024 showing.
The Life I Never Led
Vocalist: Taylor Blackmore
Music: The Life I never Led from the musical Sister Act composed by Alan Menken
Lyricist: Greg Slater
Accompanist: Andrew Ball
All That Jazz
Choreographer: Nicola Pantin
Music: All That Jazz from the musical Chicago composed by John Kander
Lyricist: Fred EBB
Live Accompaniment: Andrew Ball
Performers: Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera
Confession
Choreographer: Jennifer Robichaud
Music: Cell Block Tango/One Piano, She/Venetian Snares, Szerencsetlen/Venetian Snares,Hajnal/Venetian Snares
Performers: *Danaca Bell. Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera, *Veronica Villeneuve
Mean Girls
Choreographer: Lindsay Aquin
Music: Nicki Minaj Medley
Performers: Taylor Blackmore, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera
Maybe This Time
Vocalist: Nadia Blanchet
Music: Maybe This Time from the musical Cabaret composed by John Kander
Lyricist: Fred Ebb
Accompanist: Andrew Ball
Not My Responsibility
Choreographer: Derick Robinson
Music: Not My Responsibility by Billie Eilish
Performers: Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera
Human
Director/Editor: Jono Lawley
Choreography: Danaca Bell in collaboration with the dancers.
Outside Eye: Jennifer Robichaud
Collaborators: Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera
Do not be stilled. Look up. Keep moving. You’re only human.
House of the Rising Sun
Vocalists: Taliah Bellmann
Music: House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
Accompanist: Andrew Ball
Bittersweet Goodbye
Choreographer: Allison Bradley
Music: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Performers: *Danaca Bell, Taliah Bellmann, Taylor Blackmore, Nadia Blanchet, Julia Germano, Katrina Matera, *Veronica Villeneuve
*Guest Dancers: George Brown Dance Alumni Danaca Bell, Holly Gill, Rose Juliette Zambrano Quiroz, Veronica Villeneuve
About the Commercial Dance Program
This intensive 12-month Commercial Dance program provides you with the performance skills and marketability necessary to work in the vast field of commercial dance. A graduate has the ability to dance, sing and act, enabling a performance career in music videos, musical theatre, cruise ship performance and more. Dance training is in jazz, hip hop and ballet combined with in-depth acting, vocals and chorus repertoire. Career management and personal marketing skills combined with polished performance technique will launch your professional commercial dance career.
George Brown Dance
Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen C.M
Associate Director Derek Sangster
Academy Director Clea Iveson
Program Coordinator Kia Kotsanis
Education Coordinator Mackenzie Grantham
George Brown College
President Dr. Gervan Fearon
Vice–President, Academic Dr. Eileen De Courcy
Dean, Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology Luigi Ferrara
School of Media and Performing Arts
Associate Dean, School of Media and Performing Arts Trent Scherer
Operations Manager Centre for Arts, Design & Information Technology Anne Sardo
Student Services Coordinator Lise Maher
Commercial Dance Program Faculty
Lindsay Aquin – Hip Hop, Performance Preparation
Andrew Ball – Vocal Coaching, Performance Preparation
Allison Bradley – Jazz, Performance Preparation
Ryan Kelly – Acting Director/Coach
Heidi Lange – Vocal, Music Theory
Jono Lawley – Performance Preparation
Cindy Macedo – Ballet
Nicola Pantin – Chorus Repertoire, Performance Preparation
Jennifer Robichaud – Jazz, Business of Dance, Performance Preparation
Derick Robinson – Hip Hop, Performance Preparation
Derek Sangster – Jazz
KayAnn Ward – Performance Preparation
Accompanists
Andrew Ball – Vocal, Chorus Repertoire
Jörgen Dance
Artistic Director & CEO Bengt Jörgen C.M.
General Manager Stephen Word
Director of Touring Cameron Smillie
Academy Director Clea Iveson
Business Operations Manager Aleksandra Maslennikova
George Brown Dance Associate Director Derek Sangster
Marketing Manager Casey Spector
George Brown Dance Program Coordinator Kia Kotsanis
Education Coordinator Mackenzie Grantham
Resident Lighting Designer & Assistant Production Manager Madhu Seran
Canadian Statistics Coordinator Meg Follett
Bookkeeping Irene Lockrey and Pamela Stickney
Assistant Education Coordinator Sophia Micomonaco
Administrative Assistant Martina Breit
