Sudbury Secondary School hosts internationally recognized choreographer

Sudbury Secondary School dance student Jessika Lyons learns an elevation technique from award-winning choreographer Allen Kaeja.

Dance students at Sudbury Secondary School have been studying under the tutelage of an internationally recognized and award winning choreographer and filmmaker this week. Allen Kaeja has been teaching students his unique technique of elevations and partnering.

“We are delighted to have a dance professional of Allen Kaeja’s caliber serving as artist in residence,” says Principal Paul Camillo. “His work will culminate with a choreography created specifically for the students of the dance program that will be performed in the upcoming “Let’s Dance” show on May 16, 2013 in the Sheridan Auditorium.”  

Allen Kaeja has worked extensively with both students and dance professionals for over 20 years throughout the world.  During his week in Sudbury, he is also working with the students from Arts North, introducing his unique style to dancers within the Sudbury area.

Invited in 1981 by the Ontario Olympic Wrestling Federation to compete for the team, he chose to pursue dance as his career instead. Since then, he has created over 100 stage works, written two books and directed/choreographed for 26 films.

Allen is Co-Artistic Director of Kaeja d’Dance with his wife Karen Kaeja and co-founder of the CanAsian International Dance Festival. He teaches master workshops in Kaeja Elevations worldwide, and his dances have been presented in festivals around the globe.

Over the years, Allen Kaeja has received dozens of national and international commissions, including in Norway, Sweden, UK, India, the USA, and Mexico. His newest work, Jericho for Ut I Scenekunsten, has been touring Norway for two years.

Most recently, Allen Kaeja was the International Guest Choreographer and judge for Mexico’s Canal22 and their reality dance series Opera Prima. Allen and Karen were finalists in the Now Magazine “Best Local Choreographer 2011” and Canadian Assembly National Awards for Innovation and Community, of which they won the latter.

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Media Contact:
Carolle Mageau, Sudbury Secondary School
705-674-7551, ext. 6843
[email protected]