RUBBERBAND

ABOUT THE COMPANY
In RUBBERBAND, Victor Quijada reconciles the two poles that inhabit him: the spontaneity, risk, and fearlessness of the Hip-Hop culture of the American West Coast where he grew up, and the choreographic refinement of contemporary dance, the milieu in which he developed as a professional dancer. The revolutionary character of the aesthetic Victor has created is illustrated in close to thirty works during seventeen years of artistic research. Imbued with the inherent independence of the street and a sharply perceptive sense of staging, his choreographies explore human relations, particularly focussing on the passion of obsession, the brutality of violence, and the delicacy needed for tragedy and comedy. 

With his street-dancer sensibility intact, Victor Quijada seeks to integrate the spontaneity of Hip-Hop circles into stage performance and break down the barrier between performers and audience, as often as possible.

Besides his performance and film works, Victor has developed a training program, the RUBBERBAND Method, that prepares professional dancers for the choreographic requirements of the company. This program initiates dancers to the hybridity of a movement influenced by both urban and contemporary dance, while emphasizing interpretation, decision-making, rhythmic variations, and partnering. Workshops and lecture presentations are offered regularly during company tours.
 

Vic’s Mix
With both humorous and serious moments, Vic’s Mix is a kind of “best of” spanning the immense creative territory explored by Quijada, extracting jewels from the choreographer’s repertoire. In a remix of his own work, orchestrating the clash between urban pop and classical composition, Quijada goes further in his experiments defying notions of theatricality and audience expectations, while making sure that each body gravitating onstage in the highly athletic segments exemplifies the RUBBERBAND Method.

The premiere of Vic’s Mix took place in June 2016 as part of the Festival International DansEncore in the Salle Anaïs-Allard-Rousseau of the Maison de la Culture in Trois-Rivières (Québec, Canada).

This program, with introduction, will run approximately 85 minutes.

Victor Quijada

From the hip-hop clubs of his native Los Angeles to a performance career with dance companies such as THARP!, Ballet Tech, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Victor Quijada created  RUBBERBAND as a vehicle to fuse the form and rigor of post-modern, contemporary, and classical ballet with the ideology and movement vocabulary of the Hip-Hop culture he grew up with.

Since 2002 Quijada has choreographed close to 30 pieces both within the company structure and through commissions, and has created award-winning film and video works as choreographer, director, or dramaturge.

Victor originally developed the RUBBERBAND Method to train his company members for the specific demands of his choreography; now, RUBBERBAND Method workshops and classes are conducted at numerous international festivals, conservatories, and universities.

Photo by Isabel Rancier

Amara Barner began competitive dance training at age three in Minneapolis. As a teenager, she traveled as an assistant to several choreographers of The PULSE on Tour and Intrigue Dance Convention. This professional development in Los Angeles and New York brought opportunities to perform and conduct workshops in Australia, Mexico, England, and Italy. After moving to New York City at age 15, Amara worked for television, performed in local festivals, and participated in the creation and performance of several works with Isodoc Dance Group. Featured in Dance Magazine’s July 2020 issue as an artist “On the Rise,” Amara has toured internationally with Vic’s Mix and participated in the creation process as well as in the ongoing performances of Ever So Slightly since she joined RUBBERBAND in 2016.

Jean Bui studied visual arts and earned his BA in Contemporary Dance at Université du Québec à Montréal. Over the course of his career, Jean has had the opportunity to work with George Stamos, Katya Montaignac, and Andrea Peña, along with many appearances in music videos and commercials. Jean started a collective with company member Sydney McManus in which they generate collaborative works that explore functionality. He has danced with RUBBERBAND since 2015.

Daniela Jezerinac was born in Mississauga (ON), where she began her dance training at a local studio. While continuing to pursue her artistic career at Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, she performed several works by José Limón, Colin Connor, and Robert Glumbek. In the fall of 2019, she completed her BFA in Dance at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, where she had the honour of performing pieces choreographed by Kevin Wynn, Alexandra Beller, and Hannah Garner. Daniela joined RUBBERBAND in 2018.

Sydney McManus, originally from London (ON) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Montréal. Her experience as a freelance artist includes performances with TOES for Dance, Frog in Hand, and Alysa Pires Dance Projects. She is exploring her own choreographic work together with collaborator Jean Bui. They will premiere their first full-length work in 2021-22. Besides her work in performance, Sydney is a practicing visual artist and is continuing her studies at Université du Québec à Montréal. She has taught the RUBBERBAND Method at Springboard Danse Montréal, TransFormation Danse, and at Domaine Forget. Sydney has created, performed, and toured internationally since joining RUBBERBAND in 2016.

Jessica Joy Muszynski is a Canadian dancer and choreographer originally from Burnaby, B.C., where she trained in ballet at the Richmond Academy of Dance before moving to Calgary in 2012. In May 2019, she earned a BFA in dance from the University of Southern California, performing in excerpts of works by William Forsythe, Crystal Pite, and Victor Quijada. After graduation, Jessica starred in a music video by the band half•alive, which received over two million views. She danced with Aszure Barton & Artists during the creation process of the company’s work, Where There’s Form. Jessica moved to Montréal to dance with RUBBERBAND in 2019.

Brontë Poiré-Prest hails from Montréal. She fell in love with the art of movement at L’École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, where she had the good fortune to collaborate with renowned choreographers Angélique Willkie, Hélène Blackburn, and Alan Lake, among others. After graduating, she was invited to work at several well-established companies in Montréal, including Van Grimde Corps Secrets and Le Carré des Lombes, and as a freelancer for Compagnie Marie Chouinard. Brontë joined RUBBERBAND in 2018.

Jerimy Rivera, a native of New York City, practiced gymnastics from an early age, but after several experiences with New York City Ballet, he decided to dedicate himself exclusively to dance. After training with Steps on Broadway, he broadened his stylistic reach to contemporary dance, Hip Hop, jazz ballet, and musical theatre dance. While an adolescent, he studied for two years at the JKO School at American Ballet Theatre under Franco Devita and Raymond Lukens before joining Manhattan Youth Ballet. Rivera continued his training at The French Academie of Ballet under François Perron and Nadège Hottier; in 2012, he toured with West Side Story – The Musical. In 2013, he moved to Montréal, where he danced with Les Grands Ballets canadiens for four years. Rivera joined RUBBERBAND in 2017.

Sovann Rochon-Prom Tep, aka Promo, grew up immersed in Montréal's breaking community. He became a member of the Sweet Technique group, with whom he participated in many competitions over the years, further developing his talent. To date, he has chalked up over thirty victories and is frequently invited to participate in competitions around the world, either as a participant or as a judge. His passion for the mastery of the body spurs him to enter the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal in 2011. Since then, he has worked with RUBBERBAND, Animals of Distinction, Castel_Blast, 14 lieux, Wants&Needs Danse, Lilith & Cie, Susanna Hood, and Lucy May. Sovann continues to refine his approach through his own creations and the different workshops he teaches.

Paco Ziel, born in Mexico City, began his dance training at l’École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec. An early interest in body awareness led him to discover diverse movement approaches such as Gaga, the RUBBERBAND Method, and Feldenkrais, as well as yoga and meditation. In 2014, he founded the multidisciplinary lab, Quantum Collective, whose work was presented twice by Tangente in Montréal. Paco has performed with Montréal-based artists and companies that include Edgar Zendejas, PPS Danse, Anne Plamondon, and Martin Messier. Since 2019, he has co-directed VIAS, a dance company that alternates between Montréal and Mexico City. He is a self-taught filmmaker and photographer with a main focus on the human body, movement, and natural landscapes. Paco has danced with RUBBERBAND since 2015, and is also the company’s artistic coordinator.

All photos by Isabel Rancier (except for Sovann Rochon Prom-Tep : photo by Christian Moreau)

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To learn more about supporting Northrop please contact: 
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FRIENDS OF NORTHROP

A special thank you to our patrons whose generous support makes Northrop’s transformative arts experiences possible. Make your mark on Northrop’s future by becoming a Friend today, learn more by visiting northrop.umn.edu/give. 

We gratefully acknowledge the support from, Arts Midwest Touring Fund, Minnesota State Arts Board, National Endowment for the Arts, and New England Foundation for the Arts. 

We extend a special thank you to our event sponsors PNC Bank, RBC Wealth Management, and HGA.

This season’s listing is current as of 03/26/21.
Please contact Trisha Taylor at taylort@umn.edu  if you have any corrections or questions.
 

NORTHROP’S AEOLIAN-SKINNER ORGAN
Thank you to the generous donors who continue to support programming for Northrop’s beloved Aeolian-Skinner Organ. It is because of you that this magnificent instrument’s voice will be enjoyed by many for years to come.

We’re so grateful to have you join us for these closing performances of our 2020-21 season at Northrop.

Without a doubt, it has been a season like no other.  Yet, it has been so exciting and reassuring to see how Northrop and our many artistic partners have adapted and given us such thrilling, thought-provoking, and emotional performances to help us through these difficult times. The artists, their talent, and their creations are more important than ever. Thank you for giving Northrop the opportunity to share their incredible work with you.

As we look forward to a more optimistic summer and the anticipation of our upcoming season, I hope you consider supporting the important work that Northrop has done and will do in the future. The Northrop Advisory Board is growing along with new opportunities to engage, so if you are interested in learning more, please contact us at northrop@umn.edu.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to see you all in your seats at Northrop as we wait for the curtains to rise on another amazing performance. Until then, stay safe and stay in touch.

Jeff Bieganek, Northrop Advisory Board Chair

THE NORTHROP ADVISORY BOARD

The Northrop Advisory Board is committed to the growth and awareness of Northrop’s mission, vision, and the continued future of presenting world-class dance and music in our community. If you would like more information about the advisory board and its work, please contact Cynthia Betz, Director of Development, at 612-626-7554 or betzx011@umn.edu.