Canadian André Gingras (1969) studied drama, literature, and contemporary dance in Toronto and Montreal. He received a Canada Council Arts Award to continue his dance education in New York. He has also worked with Lucas Hoving and in America he danced in roles that had been created for José Limon. After he came to Europe in 1996 he worked closely with opera director and dance/theatre artist Robert Wilson. In 1999 he began presenting his own choreographies, including three highly successful ones with the Korzo Theater in The Hague. His breakthrough solo CYP17 toured around the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, and India.

In 2000 the Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunsten awarded him an award for most promising young choreographer. The 2004-2005 season saw him become a prominent presence on the Dutch stages with as many as three premieres; during Cadance with Zeropoint, with Excessive Second Bodysmile for the Nederlands Danstheater I (his second commission from this company), and with the production ‘U bevindt zich hier’ for Springdance. The development of a dance vocabulary of his own has Gingras’ special attention. In his designs, choice of themes, and choreographies Gingras has developed an unmistakeably unique and fascinating signature that is also striking in the brilliant way in which form and content coincide.

Back to overview