Alexandra Wells
IMAGE TECH for dancers – an introduction
January 9, 15 & 23 2021
17:30-18:30 Uhr Munich / 11:30-12:30 am Montreal/New York
Alexandra Wells is the Senior Director of Training and Company Advisor at Gibney in New York. Alexandra’s career as the Founder and Artistic Director of Springboard Danse Montréal, the Director of Artist Training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, a faculty member at The Juilliard School, Creator of IMAGE TECH for Dancers™, and an esteemed Principal dancer with Ballet National de Nancy.
Springboard and Gibney have been working in partnership since 2016: they have co-presented seven SpringboardX fundraising workshops, where dancers can engage with Springboard artists in a non-audition setting. As of 2020 the EMERGE Choreographic Award will have supported three Springboard artists. This joint initiative between Gibney Company and Springboard Danse Montréal aims to cultivate, mentor, and actualize the burgeoning visions of today’s emerging artists as tomorrow’s creative leaders in the field.
Alexandra served as the Director of Artist Training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago from 2017 – 2020. Under her direction, Hubbard Street Professional Program (HS Pro) responded to the needs of dancers entering the current job market. By curating relevant methodologies, techniques, and mentors, HS Pro connected emerging artists to leaders in the field who empowered them to become advocates within an evolving landscape.
She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Springboard Danse Montréal. Springboard is a nonprofit organization that connects leading contemporary companies, choreographers, and dancers in a dynamic artistic ecosystem. The 3-week festival in Montréal cultivates a shared language of professionalism that values the creative process and connection above all else. Through workshops, classes, creations, the restaging of celebrated repertory, international auditions, installations, and pop-up performances, Springboard is recognized worldwide as a destination for career development. Since the organization’s inception in 2001, Springboard has curated artists from over 40 countries, and directly connected more than 750 dancers to paid jobs.
Alexandra is also the Creator of IMAGE TECH for Dancers™, a weight bearing somatic practice that prepares a dancer for a technique class. Inspired by the work of Irene Dowd and Alexander Technique, IMAGE TECH culminates over 20 years of research with a broad demographic of dancers and dance training. She is currently training and certifying 10 curated teachers in IMAGE TECH’s first ever pilot program.
Alexandra was a full-time faculty member at The Juilliard School in New York City for 18 years teaching various levels of ballet and pointe. She also served as a rehearsal director, working with William Whitener on Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe, Donald Mahler on Anthony Tudor’s D ark Elegies, Gary Chryst on Jerome Robbins’ Opus Jazz, Jill Johnson on William Forsythe’s Limbs Theorem, and Shelley Washington on Twyla Tharp’s Baker’s Dozen. Additionally, she was an advisor, mentor and Colloquium facilitator for students in all artistic disciplines, and was recognized for her entrepreneurial accomplishments at Juilliard’s 2012 convocation ceremony.
Alexandra created the concept and curriculum for the Movement Invention Project, where she acted as Concept & Artistic Director from 2008 – 2017. She was on faculty at SUNY Purchase and Gibney Dance Center in New York and has been a guest teacher for many companies including A.I.M. Abraham in Motion, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Ballet BC, BJM Danse Montréal, chuthis., Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She served as a curator for emerging choreographers as part of the M.A.D. Air performance series at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC for six years. In 2010 she was selected by the Joyce Theater to be editing advisor on the Bessie Award winning production of Kyle Abraham’s Radio Show. Alexandra currently serves on the Artistic Advisory Council for MOVE|NYC|, and is the Artist Curator and an Honorary Board Member of The Legacy Project – celebrating the work of the iconic Canadian artist and choreographer Margie Gillis.
As Principal dancer of the Ballet National de Nancy, Ms. Wells toured the world and formed lasting partnerships with the late Rudolf Nureyev for six years and Patrick Dupont for four. During this time, she danced leading roles in the classics as well as the ballets of Balanchine, Fokine, Nijinsky, Lifar, Culberg, Bejart, DeMille, Neumier, Kylian, Van Manen, Limon, Christy, and Dove.
Following her performing career, Ms. Wells returned to the United States and was offered the position of rehearsal director with Ballet Hispanico of New York. In 1995 she was invited to join the Faculty of l’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, formerly associated with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens. She later served as Interim Director and had the opportunity to work with young talent in a professional school setting, as well as foster relationships with many contemporary companies and choreographers in Montréal. This experience would eventually lead her to create Springboard Danse Montréal in 2001.
imagetechfordancers.com
Instagram: Alexandrawells.dance
Previous classes with Bad Lemons Project:
Alexandra Wells
IMAGE TECH for dancers – an introduction
December 11 & 18 2020
17:30Uhr. – 18:30Uhr. (Munich)
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Bad Lemons Project Mit freundlicher Unterstützung des Kulturreferats München. Diese Veranstaltung/ dieses Projekt wird ermöglicht durch den Bayerischen Landesverband für zeitgenössischen Tanz (BLZT) aus Mitteln des Bayerischen Staatsministeriums für Wissenschaft und Kunst.
In 2021 Bad Lemons Project will be collaborating with TanzQuelle, HIER=JETZT Festival, Iwanson International School of Contemporary Dance, Circus Hub Munich, Tanzbüro München, Rat & Tat Kulturbuero , Springboard Dance Montreal
