PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

We offer advanced level Kaeja Elevations, Dance Film, and Dance Improvisation workshops for pre-professional, emerging, and professional dancers. Karen and Allen also create commissioned choreography for post-secondary dance students. If you require accessibility accommodations for any of our workshops or would like more information, please contact urban@kaeja.org.

  • "I know no one else who could pack so much useful and creative information in such a short time about how to produce a piece of Art using film and movement than Allen!"

    Victoria Slager, Teacher

  • "Karen Kaeja’s classes are a delight to my senses. She creates a playful, intimate and informed kinetic environment from which to springboard into individual movement exploration bringing a light-hearted, humorous quality. Under her perceptive guidance, it feels effortless to immerse into a creative, imaginative space."

    Lynette Segal, Capacitance dance curator - Guelph, Ontario

  • "[A] groundbreaking approach to flying."

    The Stratford Festival

  • "Karen’s gift of making people feel safe, supported, free to experiment is genuine and totally sets the tone."

    Pat Beaven, Workshop Participant

  • “I was inspired by Allen Kaeja's work and will definitely incorporate his ideas into my daily dance experiences.”

    Workshop Participant

Two dancers perform a Kaeja Elevations lift.

Deltin Sejour and Nickeshia Garrick
Photo by Drew Berry

  • Nickeshia Garrick, an Afro-Caribbean, Canadian with short kinky brown hair, acts as the support in a Kaeja Elevations lift. She holds both hands of her male-presenting partner as he jumps in the air, lifting him.

KAEJA ELEVATIONS

Session Length
1 hour minimum

Taught by
Allen Kaeja

Number of Participants
Up to 30

Dancers will learn the foundations of Kaeja Elevations® (KE), an approach to partnering where participants from all experience levels are on an equal playing field. Momentum, anchoring, and the architectural structure of the body allow participants of all genders to soar through the air, defying expectations and moving beyond the limitations of typical partner work. Skills to be developed include multi-level movement, articulate and sophisticated response to the point of contact, lofting through propulsion, and weight transfer. 

 Kaeja Elevations®, defined and created by Allen Kaeja, was developed from over three decades of refined exploration and collaboration with Karen Kaeja.

DANCE FILM

Session Length
1 hour minimum

Taught by
Allen Kaeja

Number of Participants
Any

In this workshop, Kaeja offers a conceptual and practical approach that involves both hands-on experience and discussion around how a choreographer captures the essence, essential texture, emotional and kinesthetic power of choreography within the lens of the camera. The participants will work in groups and take on the roles of director/cinematographer, choreograph and/or performer. A variety of films will be shown that examine various approaches and themes to inspire and prepare the student. The workshops will centre around landmark tools of finding the director/choreographers unique vision.

A dancer performs beside a river; yellow smoke streams from something in their hand.

Benjamin Kamino in Xtraordinary TO Dances
Photo by Drew Berry

  • A shirtless, tattooed dancer with long, dark hair and facial hair is running as they dance beside a river; yellow smoke streams from something in their hand.

One community participant leans into another in a studio.

Photo by Drew Berry

  • A group of community participants dance in a studio. In the forefront, one participant leans into the arms another, lifting their arms overhead.

IMPROVISATION

Session Length
1 hour minimum

Taught by
Karen Kaeja

Number of Participants
Up to 30

Described by colleagues ‘as a collector of what and who is in the room’, Karen thrives on moments of inspiration in motion, along with instant responses. With curiosity and fascination, Karen develops presently occurring movement enquiries through individual and small group ensemble movement practices. With a focus on internal moving stories, the participants become involved as player and observer, investigating gesture and movement infused by identity and meaning, ripening our physical presence in the world. Fueled by tasks and imagery, Karen creates a space where being fully engaged inside of the body and witnessing one another are key, often leading to shared collaborative dancemaking. She generates an environment where participants are able to take creative risk in presence, focus and ingenuity. Karen draws on 40 years of practice in improvisation, contact dance and professional creation with dancers and non-pro community movers. All ages and mobility levels are welcome. Intergenerational.

CONTACT DANCE

Session Length
1 hour minimum

Taught by
Karen Kaeja

Number of Participants
Any

Karen has developed a sensorial movement practice over the past 40 years through her engagement as a performer and creator, deeply immersed in process. Her professional creations of solo, duet and group works are fully informed by the principles she practices. The focus of her workshops are internal scores of balance and destabilization, and oppositional opportunities through shared weight interactivity, while harnessing extended centres from our bodies core. There is always attention to the head-tail-floor connection. Explorations inhabit the worlds between two or more bodies. The agency of touch, fragility and consent are valued. Intergenerational.

Three dancers embrace with their eyes closed.

Rodney Diverlus, Michael Caldwell, and Ana Groppler Photo by Drew Berry

  • Three dancers of varying ethnicities embrace each other with their eyes closed. Other hands reach up to join the embrace from below them.