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A photo of Alvin Li.

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Alvin Jiahuan Li is a curator and writer based in London, where he serves as Curator, International Art, supported by Asymmetry, at Tate Modern. He previously worked as an adjunct curator at Tate, a contributing editor to frieze magazine and an artistic advisor to the 59th Venice Biennale. He has curated projects in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and London, and is a frequent contributor to art periodicals and monographs. He is the curator of the Turbine Hall commission Mire Lee: Open Wound, 8 October 2024 - 16 March 2025. 

Shannon Evans via BanffCentre

Submitted by Shannon Evans … on
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A photo of Bilal Akkouche.

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Bilal Akkouche is a writer and Assistant Curator of International Art at Tate Modern, where he works on the Middle East and North Africa Acquisitions Committee and the African Acquisitions Committee. He has co-curated displays of artists including Anna Boghiguian, Pascale Marthine Tayou, and Farah Al Qasimi and worked on acquisitions of key works by Samia Halaby, Merikokeb Berhanu and Baya. Bilal also worked on the 2024 Hyundai Commission Mire Lee: Open Wound and is co-curating the upcoming Nigerian Modernism exhibition opening in October 2025. He has contributed to the likes of frieze magazine and Trigger magazine.

Shannon Evans via BanffCentre
Faculty

Submitted by Dolson Rhona on
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Headshot for Bruno Canadien

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Bruno Canadien is a Visual Artist whose multidisciplinary practice investigates Indigenous presence, kinship, and relationality in the contemporary context, through painting, drawing, installation, walking/land art, and public art.

Bruno is a member of the Deh Gah Got’ı́é Dene First Nation of Zhati Kǫ́ę́, Denendeh, a Dehcho Region member of the Dene Nation. He is currently based in Black Diamond, Alberta, gratefully grounding himself in the landscapes and traditional territories of the Siksikaitsitapi, Tsuut’ina and Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi nations.
 

Dolson Rhona
Feature Image
Dancers on stage holding each others arms and lunging toward each other
Subtitle
A Performance by Hélène Simoneau Danse
Page Summary
Late Bloomer is a contemporary dance work that delves into the complexities of power, belonging, and human connection.
About the Program

Late Bloomer is a contemporary dance work that delves into the complexities of power, belonging, and human connection. How are we showing up for each other, how are we failing each other? What is the responsibility of the bystander? How is belonging connected to survival?

Through intricate choreography and atmospheric design, Late Bloomer explores the human need for connection and the profound consequences of being cast aside.

In collaboration with award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Angélica Negrón, dramaturg Melanie George, costume designer Quinn Czejkowski, and lighting designer David Ferri, Simoneau and her ensemble of dancers explore the subtle forces that shape group dynamics.

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Banff Centre is grateful to the following supporters for making this event possible

Submitted by Kate King Wale… on
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Portrait of Kevin Shannon

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Kevin J. Shannon (he/him) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and is a graduate of The Juilliard School. He was a dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where he performed leading roles in works by Kyle Abraham, Aszure Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Peter Chu, Sharon Eyal, William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, Twyla Tharp, and Robyn Mineko Williams among many others. As an educator, he has led and programmed the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Intensive, was on faculty for the Gibney Pro certificate program under the direction of Alexandra Wells and is currently a guest teacher for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, José Limón Dance Company, and Gibney Company. Kevin has been a visiting artist for the School of The Art Institute of Chicago and a guest educator for the University of Chicago. Kevin is a certified IMAGE TECH for dancers™ teacher. He continues to perform as a freelance artist dancing with Brian Brooks/Moving Company, Flockworks Dance, Danielle Russo, Hélène Simoneau Danse, and kNonAme/Roderick George Artists. He has also had the privilege to stage the works of Robyn Mineko Williams.

Dancer

Submitted by Kate King Wale… on
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Headshot of Frances Samson

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Hailed by the Boston Globe as "absorbing, steadfast and compelling", Frances Lorraine Samson (she/her) is a New York based artist originally from Toronto, Canada. She has been featured by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), TEDx and Harper's Bazaar, and has had the honor of working for institutions such as The Juilliard School, SUNY Purchase College and the Danish National Academy of Music. Frances was a principal dancer with the Limón Dance Company from 2017-2023 and is currently on faculty for the Limón Institute. She has had the pleasure of collaborating with artists such as Twyla Tharp, Baye & Asa, Raúl Tamez, Madeline Hollander, Jamar Roberts, Aszure Barton, Francesca Harper and Kate Weare. Frances is the 2023 recipient of the Clive Barnes Award for Dance and is an unarmed actor combatant certified by The Society of American Fight Directors.

Dancer

Submitted by Kate King Wale… on
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Portrait of Amanda Sachs

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Amanda Sachs (she/her) is a freelance artist based in Denver, CO. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to San Francisco for the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program. In 2014, Sachs joined The Francesca Harper Project in NYC where she performed in notable theaters such as The Joyce, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Amanda toured internationally with Metamorphosis Dance from 2013-2017. She was a company member of TU Dance from 2017-2020. During her time with the company she performed works including Alvin Ailey’s solo Witness and Night Creature, and Walking with Pearl: Africa Diaries by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. She is an original member of Come Through, an evening-length collaboration with
GRAMMY-winning musician Bon Iver and TU Dance, which toured extensively. In 2021, she joined NW Dance Project in Portland. With NWDP, Amanda performed works by Ihsan Rustem, Yin Yue, Joseph Hernandez, Sarah Slipper, and Luca Veggetti. Amanda premiered in Ashwini Ramaswamy's Invisible Cities and Ben Frost’s Cold Air Rises as part of The Great Northern Festival in January 2023. Currently she is a guest artist with the Lyric Opera, Hélène Simoneau Danse, and PARA.MAR Dance Theatre. Amanda received an MSAB Creative Individuals grant in July 2024.

Dancer for performance of Late Bloomer

Submitted by Kate King Wale… on
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Portrait of Juan Duarte

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Juan Duarte (they/them) is a Brazilian Contemporary Ballet dancer based in Vancouver, Canada. After graduating from Bolshoi Ballet School and moving to Vancouver, they/he have trained with Lamondance Company and Arts Umbrella Dance Company, leading into working at Ballet BC, under the direction of Emily Molnar.

Since 2021 Juan started their journey as a freelancer where they/he have had the opportunity to work with Move The Company, Traverse City Dance Project, Corporeal Imago, Dance//Novella, Belle Spirale Dance Projects, Hélène Simoneau Danse and Aeriosa.

Juan continues to share their/his beauty and artistry with the world, and has been a powerful member of the queer scene in Vancouver. As an ambitious and dedicated performer Juan is looking forward to what the future has to offer, and is very excited to continue to explore the meaning of diversity in the dance industry.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Benoit

Dancer

Submitted by Kate King Wale… on
English
Headshot of Melanie George

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Melanie George (she/her) is an educator, choreographer, scholar, and certified movement analyst. As a curator and dramaturg specializing in rooted jazz dance and adjacent dance forms, and contemporary dance-theatre, she has worked on projects for Urban Bush Women, Raja Feather Kelly, Hélène Simoneau, Dormeshia, Susan Marshall, Alice Sheppard, Kimberly Bartosik, and SW!NG OUT, among others. She is the Associate Curator and Scholar in Residence at Jacob’s Pillow, Assistant Professor in dance at Rutgers University, and has guest lectured at Harvard University, Yale School of Drama, and The Juilliard School. Named one of Dance Magazine’s 30 over 30, she is the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Dance Education Organization. Melanie is currently touring as emcee/dramaturg/movement explorer with the Bessie-Award winning LaTasha Barnes Presents The Jazz Continuum.

Dramaturg for Late Bloomer

Submitted by Kate King Wale… on
English
Portrait of Joe Davis

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Joe (he/him) was raised in upstate New York, receiving his training under the direction of Jamey Leverett. He obtained his BFA from The Juilliard School with scholarships from The NYCDA Foundation and Cornell University. From 2016-2022 he joined BODYTRAFFIC, where he travelled to Algeria, Jakarta, and Hong Kong as a cultural ambassador. He has performed works by Jiř í Kyliá n, Crystal Pite, Nacho Duato, Micaela Taylor, Kyle Abraham, Hofesh Shechter, Alejandro Cerudo, Barak Marshall, Camille A. Brown, Twyla Tharp, amongst others. In 2019 he co-founded HD Theatre with Haley Heckethorn, which has been presented at LA Dance Festival, Palm Springs Choreography Festival, Laguna Dance Festival, Carmel Dance Festival, and has been in residency at Korzo Theatre (Netherlands), Windward School (Los Angeles) and DPAC (San Diego). As an educator, he has taught classes at Steps on Broadway, Loyola Marymount University, University of Arizona, Chapman University, Santa Monica College, UCLA and New York City Dance Alliance. He is currently on faculty at CalArts, and is a registered Dance Church® teacher, an all-inclusive and community driven outlet to dancing. Joe aims to create safe spaces for people of all identities and backgrounds through open dialogue, playful research and cacophonous laughter.

Dancer
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