Healthy Dancer Canada Western Conference 2011
Presenter Biographies & Topics
Andrea Downie MA, “Dance Conditioning for Improved Technique and Injury Prevention”
Andrea Downie has been teaching dance and fitness for 20 years. She has BFA and MA in Dance from York University in Toronto, and completed the professional training program at Dance New Amsterdam in New York City where she performed with Jodi Oberfelder Dance Projects. She is a certified Level 2 Conditioning-with-Imagery (C-I) Training teacher, a certified teacher of the Simonson Technique, and founding member of Healthy Dance Canada. Andrea currently resides in Prince George where she instructs in the Human Kinetics program at the College of New Caledonia, and teaches at Enchainement Dance Centre. Prior to her move north, she was on faculty at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Vancouver for 12 years. She works actively as a guest instructor throughout BC and Ontario enthusiastically sharing her passion for dance with students of all ages and levels.
Cathy Gordon BSR Physiotherapy, “The Growing Dancer”
Cathy Gordon graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and has worked as a physiotherapist in acute care, home care and private practice settings for over 30 years. She has extensive experience working with patients of all ages and has travelled worldwide with athletes attending training camps, World Cups, Commonwealth, Pan American and Olympic Games. Cathy’s professional interests include working in the clinic and on-site with members of the performing arts – dancers and musicians. She joined the team at the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Center in 2002 enjoys using her manual therapy skills and knowledge of exercise to help her patients achieve their goals.
Anna Kemble MA RCC BC-DMT CLMA, “Dance-Movement Therapy: A Resource Supporting Integrated Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health for Dancers”
Anna Kemble is a Board Certified Dance-Movement Therapist (MA from Naropa University) and Registered Clinical Counsellor practicing over ten years. She teaches Laban Movement Analysis and Dance Therapy locally and internationally. Anna's passion is embodiment through awareness, movement and voice, helping people grow toward their true nature. www.annakemble.com 604-781-6040
Natalie LeFebvre Gnam / the plastic orchid factory, “A Dancer’s Perspectives on Health and Injury”
Natalie LeFebvre Gnam is a Vancouver based dance artist, educator, and certified Conditioning-with-Imagery Training teacher. Born in Prince George BC, Natalie received her training at L'École Nationale de Danse Contemporaine in Montreal and has worked with Le Jeune Ballet du Québec, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, dancersdancing and Coleman Lemieux & Co. In 2008, Natalie and husband James Gnam founded the plastic orchid factory. Over the past three seasons, the company commissioned new works by Lee Su-Feh, Peter Bingham and James Gnam. In 2009, Natalie and James were honoured as the emerging artists at the Mayor's Arts Award for Dance in Vancouver. Natalie was also the recipient of the Isadora Duncan Award for Excellence for her performance in ‘endORPHIN’, the plastic orchid factory’s first evening length work. www.plasticorchidfactory.com
Kristina Lemieux, Program Coordinator CADA-BC, “Navigating the Maze of Health Care: For Dancers”
Kristina Lemieux is the Program Coordinator for the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists - BC Chapter. CADA-BC is a membership of dance artists working together to raise the professional standards within our employment sector with the vision to support dance artists as an integral part of BC’s cultural force. Kristina brings 10 years experience as an arts administrator with a passion for dance. Hailing from Edmonton, Kristina was an active member of Edmonton's dance community and was a dancer with Orchesis Dance Group, KO Dance Project and Mile Zero Dance. Since relocating to Vancouver in 2007, Kristina has found a fast friend in Vancouver's dance community- she sits on the Boards of Tara Cheyenne Performance and dances with Continuum Dance Company at the Shadbolt Centre. Kristina also works with Arts Umbrella and The Tomorrow Collective.
Bonnie E. Robson MD DPsych DCP FRCP(C), “Psychological Issues for Dance Professionals: A Clinical Approach to Stress Reduction and Improved Performance”
Bonnie E. Robson has spent 35 years in clinical adult and child psychiatry and since 1983 specializing in performing arts medicine and performance enhancement for vocal music students, dance students, teachers, administrators and artistic directors. Currently she offers consultation to artists and athletes at Pivot Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Toronto. She was a consultant to the National Ballet School of Canada from 1983 -1985 and Quinte Ballet School of Canada from 2000. Her original arts-related research makes her a popular speaker/presenter at national and international conferences. She has published her research in such juried journals as the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science and Medical Problems of Performing Artists where she also serves on the editorial Board. She was on the Board of Directors of PAMA and has served on the Board of NETWORK Schools and chaired their research committee. She was honoured by this organization with a life time achievement award for her contribution to arts education.
Alia Ruemper MSc, “Hypermobility and the Dancer: Differentiating between General Joint Hypermobility and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and How they both Relate to Injuries and Injury Prevention”
Alia Ruemper is originally from British Columbia. She completed her BA Dance (Distinction) and BKin General Kinesiology Degrees at the University of Calgary. Alia also has an Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) teaching certification as well as a STOTT Pilates certification. In 2008 Alia completed her MSc in Dance Science (Distinction) at Laban (London, England) and returned to Europe in 2009 to present her MSc thesis at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science conference where she won the Student Research Award. Alia is currently a full-time dance teacher in Alberta.
Vincent Walker RMT, “Understanding the Role of Massage Therapy for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation”
Vincent Walker practices Registered Massage Therapy in the Scotiabank Dance Centre, and the U.B.C. Aquatic Centre. He graduated from West Coast College of Massage Therapy and began practice in 1995. Primarily focused on dancers and athletes he strives to balance the body’s internal healing mechanisms and give a good massage.
Healthy Dancer Canada's mission is to be the Canadian leader in facilitating communication and collaboration between the dance community and
health professionals to enhance the health and well-being of all dancers".
