Orchesis Instructors
Tamara Bliss - Level III Instructor B.A., A.A., M.A. (Orchesis Director)
Tamara Bliss, a professional modern dancer from the US, has danced in concerts, industrial shows, musicals, and children's theater since 1976.
Performing credits in New York City include the companies of Peter Pucci, Rachel Lampert, Matthew Diamond and Ed Henry, plus Lynne Wimmer of Philadelphia and Salt Lake City, and Metro Theater Circus of St. Louis, Missouri. She taught on the faculties of Marymount Manhattan College, the 92nd Street YM/YWHA in NYC, and the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia.
In 1984, the Pennsylvania State Council on the Arts funded her work as a movement specialist for the Arts-In-Education program.
Living in Edmonton since 1993, she has performed in the Fringe Festival 1994, appeared in the choreography of Linda Rubin, "Timepieces" at the Timms Centre 1995 & 1996, acted as choreographic consultant for Usha Gupta's "Passages: 5 Senses with 5 Seasons" 1997, invited guest choreographer for Grant MacEwan College Dance department 1998, collaborator with Kathy Metzger in 2000 "Cirque Du Fringe" production, and as performer and choreographer in the 2003 production of "Asht Nayika" for Usha Gupta and the Brian Webb Dance Company.
A dance costume designer since 1976, Tamara designed for New York companies such as Jennifer Muller and the Works, Zvi Gotheiner, Young Soon Kim's White Wave Rising, Matthew Diamond, Melanie Slater, and Rachel Lampert. In Canada, her costumes appeared on Montreál Danse Company's Cuidad De Heirro by José Besprovany and for Toronto based choreographer Barbara Morgan. In Edmonton, she has designed costumes for several choreographers: Heidi Bunting, Andrea Rabinovitch, Linda Rubin, Charlene Tarver, Brian Webb, Tania Alvarado, Kathy Ochoa and others. Tamara has taught dance costuming at New York University, Marymount Manhattan College and in the Arts Outreach program of GMCC. She received a degree in Fashion Design, Associate of Applied Science from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 1987.
The modern technique, syllabus and movement language of José Limón dominates her teaching style, with extensive training in Graham, Cunningham, ballet and various jazz styles. Dance theory, history and composition and their applications are integrated into her teaching specialization.
Since completing her Master of Arts degree at the University of Alberta in 1996 (An Inquiry into the Experiences of Modern Dancers in Enhanced Performance States), Tamara has been teaching in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. She teaches or has taught the following University of Alberta courses: DAC 160 (jazz), DAC 165 (Ballet), DAC 155 (Social Dance assistant), DANCE 200, (Spectrum of Dance In Society), DANCE 340 (Introduction to Modern Dance), DANCE 345 (Modern Dance Technique), DANCE 431 (Creative Dance for Young Children), DANCE 446 (Dance Composition), PERLS 101 (Critical Thinking - Tutorial coach), PEDS 303 (Asst. to Dr. John Hogg-Sports Psychology), and supervised independent studies DANCE 498 and 499. She has also served as Guest Modern teacher at the Edmonton Dance Center, 1996 - 1999. Since 1995, Tamara has directed the University of Alberta's Orchesis Dance group - programming, producing, choreographing, teaching and designing.
tamara.bliss@ualberta.caMiriam Esquitín - Level I Instructor and Various Substitution levels
Miriam Esquitín has danced professionally for ten years in Canada and Mexico. In Edmonton she has taught, danced and choreographed for Orchesis, Mile Zero, the University of Alberta, and Tamara Bliss, to name a few. She holds a certification as Contemporary Dance Teacher. Her style reflects a continual search of new and honest movement possibilities, and a good dose of emotional involvement.
mesquitin@gmail.comKathy Metzger-Corriveau - Level II Instructor
Kathy Metzger-Corriveau has worked as a Modern dancer, choreographer and teacher of Ballet, Modern and Creative dance in Edmonton since 1990. Kathy has received GMCC Dance Performance and Dance Teacher-Training diplomas, as well as a Physical Education degree with a focus in dance. In addition, Kathy has taken many workshops in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and New York. Her professional experience includes working with Mile Zero Dance Co., Manifest Human Arts, Brian Webb Dance Co., Usha Gupta, Kathy Ochoa, Heidi Bunting, Wendy McNeil, and Tamara Bliss. Kathy has choreographed works for Dirty Feet Productions, Alberta Dance Explosions, Orchesis Modern Dance Group, the musical “OGOJ”, Edmonton Dance Centre, and the Telus Children’s Musical Theatre. Kathy was asked to be an emerging choreographer for the GMCC Choreographic Intensive in August 1998, and produced her own show under Destiny Dance Productions for the Edmonton Fringe Festival, 2000. Kathy had been appointed Co-Artistic Director for the Mile Zero Dance Company for the 2000-2001 season, and had assisted Tamara Bliss with the administration of the Orchesis Modern Dance Group for the 2002-2003 season. Currently, Kathy has been certified as a Pilates Mat Instructor from the Body Works Pilates Studio, and is enjoying her son Chris.
kathymetzger@hotmail.comJodie Vandekerkhove - Level I Instructor
Originally from Fort McMurray, Jodie Vandekerkhove is a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer. She is a graduate from Simon Fraser University, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts-Dance Degree, a Dance Diploma from Grant MacEwan College Dance Program and her Elementary RAD Ballet Exam. Jodie’s training encompasses Western Canada/USA (Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton), New York and London England: she is articulate, diverse, and always brings her personal growth into the studio. She has performed with Off Center Dance Company, Plan B Productions Company, Manifest Human Arts, Brain Webb Dance Company, Mile Zero Dance and various independent choreographers including. Her choreography has been presented by Dance Explosions, NeXtfest, Twelve Minutes Max, Dance Motif and Mile Zero Dance. Presently Jodie teaches at the University of Alberta “Orchesis” Program & Campus Recreation, GMCC outreach program, Danceco (St. Albert) and is the Education Coordinator for Mile Zero Dance. Jodie has most recently performed with Mile Zero Dance Lab July 2004.
jodievandekerkhove@hotmail.com
