Justine A. Chambers is a Vancouver-based independent contemporary dance artist. She was a principal dancer with Desrosiers Dance Theatre, a member of Diavolo Dance Theater in Los Angeles and has worked with a number of independent choreographers worldwide including: Kota Yamazaki (Japan), Julia Sasso, Turbo Bonz Dance Projects, Atlas Moves Watching Dance Projects, Vicki St.Denys, Sonya Biernath, Roxanne Huilmand (Brussels) Princess Productions, Heidi Strauss, Conrad Alexandrowicz, and Darryl Tracy. In addition to being on faculty at Ryerson University, Dance Teq, The Quinte Ballet School, and the Teacher’s Collective in Toronto, she was invited to hold master classes at McMaster University, Park Avenue Dance Company (Rochester, NY), and Victoria Danceworks. Chambers is currently on faculty at Arts Umbrella and is currently artist in residence to the dance program. She also teaches at Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver. She also works actively as a rehearsal director, and has notably directed a remount of James Kudelka’s Soudain L’Hiver Dernier and the Autumn movement of John Alleyne’s Four Seasons. Chambers has been commissioned to create work for the Music Gallery, Ryerson Dances, Quinte Ballet School, Series 8:08 Season Finale, Arts Umbrella Dance Company, Dances for a Small Stage, Contingency Plan, SFU Contemporary Dance and Elev8 in Victoria. She has also collaborated on theatre projects as a movement coach and choreographer. In 2007, she was artist-in-residence at Colour School where she created a solo work in collaboration with conceptual artist and arts educactor, Kristina Podesva. Chambers was featured in David Bowie’s music video Dead Man Walking, and has appeared in Canadian television specials, films and in international industrial performances. In February 2010 she and co-creator Deanna Peters presented a full length duet One + the Other at New Dance Horizons in Regina. She has recently performed in 'this time', a full length duet created by Heidi Strauss for Chambers and Brendan Wyatt. Chambers and video artist, Josh Hite, are currently creating "Copy" a multi-disciplinary and participatory work that explores duplication, mimicry, degeneration and repetition by allowing dancers and viewers to simultaneously co-create the piece as a whole.
Laura Hicks is a dancer, choreographer, improviser and teacher with strong interests in multidisciplinary work, community outreach, contact improvisation, and pilates. Based in Vancouver since 2005, Laura has danced for Claire French/Restless Productions since 2007 and has also worked for MACHiNENOiSY, the Body Narratives Collective, Jennifer Clarke, Justine Chambers, Julie Lebel, Sara Coffin, Kathleen McDonagh, and Chick Snipper. Her own work has been presented by; In the House Festival, Dancing on the Edge, 12 Minutes Max, and as part of Artistic Residencies across BC. Laura organizes and dances with No Hitting, a performance collective that brings together some of Vancouver’s most striking improvisers in sound and movement. Laura is an emerging Artist in Residence with the Dance Centre for 2009/10 and was recently awarded the Holy Body Tattoo BC’s Emerging Dance Artist Award.
