Dance
Suzanne Liska
BIOGRAPHY
Suzanne Liska is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and researcher based in dance ethnography, practice-based-choreographic research, cultural theory, Asian dance theatre forms, improvisation and somatics. Suzanne has choreographed and performed works presented by CanAsian KickStart, DanceWorks CoWorks, Dusk Dances, Dance Matters, and Harbourfront Centre, receiving grants and awards through York University, the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
Suzanne’s recent choreographic works question, transform and embody her diasporic mixed-Asian Canadian cultural background. Thread Bound – with Kathleen Rea, embodies the history of the Japanese Canadian Internment of her family. Re-Place – with Susan Lee and visual artist JJ Lee, investigates multi-ethnicity as Asian Canadian artists. Yume-Iro (Dream Colour) – with Takako Segawa and composer Heidi Chan, is a dance embodiment of Taiko (Japanese drumming) and Rokuro (The Wheel), is a live multi-media performance/installation with dance, music, video, staged Japanese-inspired garden and tea ceremony featuring Japanese tea bowls. Suzanne has also co-created/performed for Maxine Heppner, Pam Johnson, Karen Kaeja and company dancer for Kathleen Rea.
Suzanne has Bachelor Degrees in Arts and Education, Certified Alexander Technique Teacher, and an MFA in Dance Choreography. She has taught professional dancers, actors, community dancers/actors, and high school and elementary school students. Her areas of specialization include dance improvisation (Contact/Ensemble Improv), somatics (Certified Alexander Technique Teacher), Taiko (Japanese drumming), and Butoh. She is contract faculty in York University’s Dance department and in George Brown College’s Acting School and Digital Media department. www.suzanneliska.com
Dance
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