About Dreamwalker

The work that ANDDC presents speaks to the human experience, either through current events, issues, or through a set of values, feelings. Our work is process driven, guided by the parameters of the project while fueling investigation, playfulness, freedom of expression, singularity, and virtuosity. It is our wish to remain open to possibility and to allow the alchemy that is created between collaborators be celebrated and central to the collaboration. We consciously strive to create a safe, supportive and rewarding work environment for those involved.

Process:

Bring together/invite - inspire/facilitate - allow/encourage - guide/direct - observe/witness - identify/present challenges - excite/support - respond/reflect - make decisions - present- reflect.

Dance Education Work

Our wish is to facilitate a process for people to expand and reach beyond their everyday application of movement to reveal something sublime.

Physical inhibition is most often a barrier for people who are new to dance as a form of emotional expression and physical engagement. As educators we commit ourselves to three working conditions in the studio. To listen, to try, and to respect others, the process and ourselves. We encourage expression from individual voices, nurture participants’ desire to try, and teach skills to communicate ideas clearly. Our foremost challenge is to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore pure expression, connectivity, communication and to cultivate attention.

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Andrea Nann (Artistic Director)

Andrea Nann is a Toronto based contemporary dance choreographer, performer, teacher
and artistic director of Andrea Nann Dreamwalker Dance Company. As a choreographer,
director and producer, Nann brings together artists from many different disciplines.
Creative collaborators include author/poet Michael Ondaatje, poet/musician Gordon Downie
(The Tragically Hip), composer/cellist/vocalist Anne Bourne, visual artists Wayne Ngan,
Michael Caines and Janet Morton, pianist Andrew Burashko, composers John Gzowski and
George Gao, designers Aisling Sampson, Cheryl Lalonde, Peter Chin, Arun Srinivasan,
Glenn Davidson, musical group The Skydiggers, musician Andrew Cash, poet Chris Chambers,
video artist Samm Higgison, and filmmakers Peter Mettler, Nick Depencier, Nicole Mion,
Brian Johnson, Lisa Hayes and Veronica Tennant.

A graduate of York University’s Department of Fine Arts in 1988, Nann was a full-time
member of the Danny Grossman Dance Company (DGDC) for fifteen years from
1988 – 2003 where she created, performe and taught major roles from the works of
Mr. Grossman and guest choreographers. As an independent dancer she has created
and performed over forty original roles for a long list of prominent Canadian choreographers.

Jessa Agilo-Copeland (General Manager)

Jessa Agilo-Copeland is an interdisciplinary arts manager, consultant and entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in the contemporary arts. Jessa has undertaken advanced training in Music Composition & Electroacoustics (Queen’s University & University of British Columbia), Fundraising Management (British Columbia Institute of Technology), and Arts & Culture Administration (John Molson School of Business). In 2006, she was awarded the Humberto Santos Award in Business and Administration (Concordia University). An independent arts consultant, Jessa is the founder of : agilo arts :, offering strategic arts consulting services to a variety of organizations and independent artists from across Canada. Currently the General Manager of Kaeja d’Dance (Toronto), Jessa’s past management commitments include the multi-faceted role of Arts Manager at the Dance Umbrella of Ontario (Toronto).