Kaeja Emerging Artist Project (KEAP)

KEAP is a mentorship project initiated and led by Karen Kaeja of Kaeja d'Dance. Karen and Allen Kaeja have always mentored dancers from the Canadian dance scene and for 5 years (2001-2004), they blossomed Kd’D2, a successful touring Company of emerging dance artists. Since late 2009, they began fostering a deeper connection with a select group of Toronto’s current up and coming dance artists. Through the members individual career inquiry and KEAP project initiatives, mentorship is fluidly supported by the Kaejas. KEAP aims to help propel the next generation in a sustainable way. KEAP projects vary and often includes fostering other individuals in Toronto's hotbed of rising dance artists. Current KEAP Artists: Courtnae Bouman, Diana Groenendijk, Savannah Hoag.
For further info, contact karen@kaeja.org

 

2 Kaeja Films Selected by American Dance Festival

June 26, 2010
White Lecture Hall - Nasher Museum of Art
Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
www.americandancefestival.org

Two short films directed by Co-Artistic Directors Karen & Allen Kaeja – Mika’s Alley and A Canticle for Rain – have been selected for screening at the prestigious 2010 American Dance Festival’s 15th Annual Dancing for the Camera: International Festival of Film and Video Dance.

After being a featured performer in 18 dance films that have been screened in more than 400 festivals worldwide, Mika’s Alley (2009) is Karen Kaeja’s directorial debut. Of the creation, Karen says that “Mika’s Alley is a gut response to the creation and performance experiences of related live work called Wedding Threads.” Peering into the imaginary world of a child's wonderment in her back alley in Toronto, the film features her daughter, Mika Kaeja, alongside dancers Mairéad Filgate, Suzanne Liska and Barbara Pallomino. The 3-minute short film also features cinematography by Hernan Morris, and original music by Edgardo Moreno (composer) and Fides Krucker (vocals). Mika's Alley was created during an intensive ten-day workshop, Dance for the Camera, sponsored by the CanAsian International Dance Festival with master director, David Hinton. The film has also been screened at film festivals including Reeling: Dance on Screen Festival (Edmonton, Alberta), Dance Under Construction (Riverside, California), and Agite y Sirva: International Festival of Video Dance (Mexico).

A Canticle for Rain (2009) is a short dance film co-directed by award-winning filmmaker Allen Kaeja, and Denise Fujiwara (of Fujiwara Dance Inventions). The film was shot on location at the Scarborough Bluffs in Toronto. It features images of a clay woman emerging from the backdrop of cliffs, falling rain and eyes opening to the possibilities of hope. Choreographed and performed by Denise Fujiwara, with camera and editing by Allen Kaeja and original music by David Toop and Max Eastley, A Canticle for Rain was created during an intensive ten-day workshop, Dance for the Camera, sponsored by the CanAsian International Dance Festival with master director, David Hinton. The film has also been screened at the Reeling & Dance Under Construction film festivals in Edmonton, Alberta and Riverside, California.

 

Two new works

City Connect : Toronto

Two new works by Karen and Allen, commissioned by Cadence Progressive Contemporary Ballet, will be presented and performed at Cadence's City Connect : Toronto on July 2 - 4, 2010 at Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester Street). Info: www.courtnae.com/cadence