Before turning to choreography, Andrew Skeels danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, where he encountered the styles of Kylián, Ek, Celis and Veldman. In constant evolution, his approach draws on his classical ballet training and his explorations into contact improvisation and breakdance. His work is energetic, musical, incisive—in a word, dazzling. “The audience is the final element that gives life to a dance”, he says. In Rose of Jericho, Skeels uses the resilient Middle Eastern plant as a metaphor for a transcultural cross-fertilization between perseverance and rebirth. Joining him on the creative team are two other artistic nomads, musician Sussan Deyhim and designer Wilber Tellez. In an exotic, evocative setting, an eclectic ensemble of seven dancers from various disciplines performs a great escape. Movement as calligraphy; a paean to diversity.
Photo © Julien Benhamou.
Andrew Skeels is a Montreal-based choreographer. He has created work for the Ballet of the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Nederlands Dans Theater 2, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Cirque du Soleil, Tanztheater International Festival Hannover, Théâtre de Suresnes Jean-Villar, Kansas City Ballet, Festival Quartiers Danses Montréal, Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, WestWave Dance Festival San Francisco, Colorado...
Read more about Andrew SkeelsAndrew Skeels is the artistic director of Skeels Danse Montréal. His work has been presented at the Paris Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, TanzTheater International Festival Hannover, Palais des Festivals Cannes, Théâtre de Suresnes Jean-Villar, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Kansas City Ballet, Festival Quartiers Danses Montréal, Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, WestWave Dance Festival San Francisco, Colorado Ball...
Read more about Skeels DanseChoreography Andrew Skeels.
Music Sussan Deyhim, Richard Horowitz.
Costumes Wilber Tellez.
Seamstress Nicole Barron.
Lighting Rasmus Sylvest.
Set Design Sunny Doyle.
Set Design Assistant Gillian Nasser.
Props Sophia Graziani.
Makeup and Photography Damian Siqueiros.
Dancers Alexandre Carlos, Etienne Gagnon-Delorme, Jessie Lhôte, Alisia Pobega, Odile Peters, Lila-Mae Talbot, Brett Andrew Taylor.