Welcome
May 24, 2010
Welcome, you have found yourself on the homepage for Laura Hicks. Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher and Pilates instructor. Laura currently lives and works in Vancouver, BC and Toronto ON Canada. Please scroll down for recent updates.
Get in touch with me by sending me an email at lauraliann@yahoo.ca
The Active Passive Dance
December 4, 2011
‘The Active Passive Dance” What the heck does that mean? Come and find out. Laura is now teaching ‘West Coast Style Contact Improvisation’ classes Thursday mornings 10 – 12 at the Dovercourt House in Toronto. Three more classes to go! Dec 15th, 22nd and 29th. For more info see ‘classes’.
Coexis Dance
October 18, 2011
This Saturday, October 22nd Laura will be performing improvisation with Julie Lassonde and Nilan Perera as part of the Coexis Dance Series.
Come what may!
Saturday October 22, 2011, 8pm, $8, Array Studio (60 Atlantic Ave., Suite 218), Toronto (http://www.arraymusic.com/?page_id=7).
Nosh in the news
July 12, 2011
nosh and stammer was performed July 8th and 10th to very enthusiastic audiences! And… we got some press: Vancouver Courier Article
Dancing in the Edge
June 23, 2011
Nosh and stammer is nearing completion! This new 30 minute trio, with live sound composed on stage by Rachael Wadham will be premiered in Vancouver, July 8th and 10th 2011.
Catch a FREE preview! Monday June 27th, Heritage Playhouse Theatre, Gibsons BC. 4PM.
Having waited tables for over a decade first to support myself as a student, and later as an artist, I’m finally able to bring my discomfort and confusion about the antithetical world of fine dining and ‘service’ to the stage. A foray into live sound improvisation created by looping sound effects from a restaurant (wine glasses, pepper grinder, squeeky chair – you get the picture) with the occasional saw bowing, and dance that uses elements of physical theatre, text and improvisation, Nosh will be full of surprises.
Journey into the fine details and hard edges of waiting tables. Smiling through the chaos, Nosh explores the art of sincerity and the cravings of hunger while minding the proper placement of salt and pepper.
Creation and Direction by Laura Hicks
Choreography in collaboration with Anne Cooper and Caroline Farquhar
Live sound composition by Rachael Wadham.
Dancing on the Edge Festival, TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
July 8th at 7 pm (Edge 1 with MOVE: the company, and James Gnam/Contingency Plan)
July 10th at 7 pm (Edge 2 with Tara Cheyenne Performance and Noam Gagnon/Meredith Kalaman)
The Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova St (at Gore), Vancouver BC
Hotline: 604 689 0926
dancingontheedge.org
Nosh and stammer gratefully aknowledges the support of: The Canada Council for the Arts, The Dance Centre, Dancing on the Edge, 45 West, The Sunshine Coast Dance Society, and the Kettle of Fish Restaurant.
New Work
May 1, 2011
New work under way:
Pearl A new solo exploring ideas of femininity premiered at Toronto’s Dance Matters in April. You can see a sneak peak under video. I will be looking for more presentation opportunities for the work over the next year.
Nosh and stammer A new trio featuring the beautiful dancers Caroline Farquhar and Anne Cooper along with live sound composition by Rachael Wadham will premiere at Dancing on the Edge, Vancouver’s Contemporary Dance Festival in July 2011. I’ll be in Vancouver in June!
The above photo is by Linsay Lauckner. A talented Toronto photographer, she was kind enough to lend it to me to project as a back drop for Pearl. You can find a link to her website below.
Pilates Classes in Toronto
January 21, 2011
Laura is thrilled to be offering classes to the Toronto public. Rates are as follows:
Equipment Classes for the general public:
$45/ intro session and $55/ongoing private sessions
$25 / trio sessions (find two friends and get a deal!)
Equipment Classes for Dancers or the Creatively Underemployed:
$40/ privates
$20/trios
Mat Classes are also offered at a rate of $10 – $15 sliding scale.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me for details. All classes are held in an easily accessible studio on the Danforth in the east end.
Privates on the equipment are also available at a studio in the Annex area, $50 per session.
2011 Update
January 21, 2011
What a year! 2010 was a year of growth and change. Updates include:
July/August 2010, Impulstanz
Working with Davis Freeman (Artistic Director of Random Scream, credits include Forced Entertainment 
and Meg Stuart) along with a group of dance artists from around the globe. The group remounted and performed Davis’ work ‘too shy to stare’ as part of the festival program at Impulstanz 2010 in Vienna, Austria with performances running for an entire week.
September 2010, Rehearsal Directing for Helen Walkley.
An incredible artist who has been teaching and performing for over 30 years. Over the last 6 years of my career I have watched our relationship grow from teacher/student to collegue/friend. Rehearsal directing for Helen was a true honor. I look forward to our connections in the future.
November 2010, Touring with MACHiNENOiSY
An incredible company whom I have been so fortunate to work with on and off for the past 5 years. Always fresh and truly contemporary, Daelik and Delia stand out and their work just keeps getting better and better. I hope our futures conspire again soon.
December 2010, 1st Creation Period for Nosh (working title)
Research becomes creation. December saw me working with Anne Cooper (gifted interpreter, improviser and long time company member of EDAM dance) to incorporate her as a collaborator in Nosh – a full length work to be premiered in Vancouver in 2011. (Researched with Caroline Farquhar, Rachael Wadham, Tanya Marquardt and Daelik.)
Relocation to Toronto, January 2011
As of January 2011 Laura will be located in Toronto. She will be offering opportunities to the public for classes in improvisation, creation methods by Liz Lerman, the Critical Response Process, and Pilates throughout the spring while researching and developing new solo work, ‘Pearl’ (working title.) Watch for updates.
Rehearsal Directing
October 21, 2010
September 2010…
Laura will be rehearsal directing for Helen Walkley for her latest work.
How is Sleep Beautiful? Premiering at Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie, Vancouver. October 1st and 2nd. 8pm
Also…
Laura will be teaching an Open Pilates Mat Class at the Dance Centre Open House.
Pilates Mat with Laura
September 25th, 11 am – 12 pm
Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie.
Free!! BYOM (bring your own mat).
Dancing in Vienna!
July 7, 2010
Laura will be pursuing a period of professional development at Impulstanz 2010, thanks to generous funding from the BC Arts Council. www.impulstanz.com
