Contemporary Technique
Marie-Josée’s approach has been influenced by several techniques she has studied over the years including Limón, Cunningham, Release and Ballet; she applies principles of movement she has acquired with her many years as a dancer with Dancemakers learning from Serge Bennathan, as well as various exceptional teachers in Canada and abroad. In addition to her formal training, Marie-Josée has also studied Alexander technique, Pilates, Skinner Release technique, functional and kinesthetic anatomy, Jazz, Kundalini Yoga, Composition, Improvisation, Physical Theatre, Clown, Bouffon and Mime. She considers these disciplines as a great complement to her understanding of the body as a whole.
Furthermore, her thirty year practice as a singer in both traditional and extended vocal techniques as taught her a great deal about breathing, the importance of the connection and alignment between the head and neck with the rest of the body, and the understanding of the relaxation of the facial muscles, throat, jaw and tongue to enable the rest of the body to open up and be more efficient. She is mindful of continuing her ongoing investigation into new forms in order to incorporate and share her findings in her teaching. Here is a list of places where Marie-Josée has taught contemporary dance over the years:
2010-2021
Toronto Dance Theatre (company class), Ryerson University, GMD (Toronto); School of Contemporary Dancers (Winnipeg); Vancouver Training Society, Simon Fraser University (Vancouver); Mocean Dance (Halifax); Buenos Aires (Argentina);
2009
Regroupement Québécois de la danse, Circuit-Est Centre Chorégraphique (Montréal)
2007-08
Los Talleres (Mexico); 509 Collective, Ryerson University (Toronto)
2001 – 2006
Festival Distrital and Ballet Ciudad Bogotà (Colombia); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); Teachers Collective, 509 Collective (Toronto); Université du Québec à Montréal, École Nationale du Cirque (Montréal); Manheim Ballet (Germany); Damian Muñoz Dance Company (Barcelona)
1997-1998
Springboard Dance, University of Calgary (Calgary); Brian Webb Dance Company (Edmonton)
1993
University of Waterloo
1990
York University (Toronto)
1989-1997
Dancemakers Dance Company (Toronto)
1989-1993
National Ballet of Canada and Dancemakers (residency program for high school students in Toronto), Koffler Centre for the Arts (Toronto)
1985
Centro Danza (Treviso, Italy)
1979-1982
Pointépiénu (Montréal)