By Victoria Starbuck, Staff Writer

Published in print Feb. 11, 2015

On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Dance Project in downtown Greensboro hosted a master class and open rehearsal for Helen Simoneau Danse. Upwards of 30 dancers attended the event, coming from various parts of the state. The class, taught by company dancers Hannah Darrah and Burr Johson, gave dancers the opportunity for immersion in the style of dance practiced by Simoneau’s company without the price tag generally associated with master classes. The use of arms to propel the body in various directions and the portrayal of a character marked several combinations during the class. Company dancers who participated in the class showed exquisite forms of movement. Their release of tension while remaining in control of their limbs was breathtaking.

Open rehearsal is an invitation for members of the community to peek inside of a session in the dance studio. The rehearsal on Saturday focused on the company’s upcoming performance in celebration of five years as “Helen Simoneau Danse.”

Helen Simoneau’s piece, “The Task of Doing,” which is set to premiere in Winston-Salem on Mar. 4, explores the interactions between expectations and the way humans react to them. The duet including Burr Johnson and Miles Yeung required the dancers to react to the movements of one another. Simoneau’s choreography of this duet section expressed the need for change when a person is under pressure.

“The Task of Doing” transitions from slow movement into rapid running. The piece is physically challenging and it continuously holds the audience’s attention. Simoneau has not completed the process of choreographing yet, but it is evident that she is meticulous with her work. On Saturday, she paid special attention to the connection between dancers and music, working to find a balance that best expressed her message.

The company’s annual residency in North Carolina provides the community with the opportunity to engage with dancers who have had a great deal of exposure to the wider dance community. When Helen Simoneau Danse is not in season, company members work as freelance artists, often frequenting the dance mecca of New York City.

During a break in Saturday’s rehearsal, the dancers explained the necessity of working as a freelance artist.

“You can’t just do one thing,” says company dancer Miles Yeung.

The dance world of the twenty-first century is demanding. It expects dancers to be well versed in all forms. Working as a freelance artist provides dancers with the ability to make more connections within the dance community. Experience with various choreographers and companies provide dancers with more options in the future. 

Like the dancers in her company, Simoneau finds various facets in which to express her dancing as well as her choreography.

A native of Québec, Simoneau began dancing at the age of seventeen. Although she had a relatively late start to begin her dance career, Simoneau has created an impressive resume both in terms of dance and choreography.

She has received commissions from places such as the American Dance Festival and the Swiss International Coaching Project in Zurich. Her choreographic works have been showcased in a multitude of countries including the United States, Canada, Greece, and Japan. She has receive multiple awards including first place in choreography at the thirteenth Internationales Solo-Tanz-Theatre Festival in Stuttgart, Germany.