Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers is Canada's longest continuously running modern dance company. Founded in 1964 by Rachel Browne, it has presented works in the Rachel Browne Theatre in Winnipeg as well as locations across Canada and the United States. The company has created dances in the traditional modern dance style as well as avant-garde and expressionistic dance-theatre. Its current artistic director is Jolene Bailie.

Creation

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers was formed in 1964 as a student group by Rachel Browne. It was recognised as a fully professional dance company in 1971 and begun receiving Canada Council grants. They performed works by a variety of American choreographers like James Waring and Dan Wagoner and also performed new works by upcoming Canadian choreographers like

Jennifer Wootton Mascall Jennifer Wootton Mascall (born December 11, 1952) is a modern dance choreographer, performer, and teacher. After completing a formal training at York University, she went on to work with several dance companies, and as an independent dancer and ch ...

and

Linda Rabin Linda Rabin (born September 28, 1946) is a Canadian dancer, choreographer and educator. The daughter of Max Rabin, a clothing salesman, and Mina Rosen, a Polish immigrant, she was born in Montreal. Rabin studied modern dance with José Limón, wit ...

. Browne encouraged her dancers to also choreograph for the company and created works herself that reflected her

humanistic Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential and agency of human beings. It considers human beings the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The meaning of the term "humani ...

viewpoints. Browne worked in the company as artistic director, resident choreographer and teacher.

Post-Browne era

In 1983 Browne was ousted as artistic director and replaced by

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

. In 1984 Tedd Robinson was appointed artistic director. Robinson focused on an avant-garde style of choreography and remained with the company until 1990. Charles Moulton was appointed artistic director in 1990 which was a tumultuous season, leaving to company with an enormous deficit. The company regrouped under Tom Stroud in 1991 who remained the artistic director for fourteen years. He created three works with the company that were based on William Shakespeare's plays and focused on expressionistic dance-theater. In 2005 Brent Lott was promoted from dancer in the company to artistic director. In 2019, Jolene Bailie was appointed artistic director. Jolene Bailie is the first woman to lead the company since its founder, Rachel Browne.

Notes

{{authority control Dance companies in Canada Performing groups established in 1964 Modern dance companies