Desirée Dunbar, Artistic Director 

Biography

Visionary. Community-builder. Dance Artist.

Desirée Dunbar is award winning Dance Artist and known for dancing in principal roles of over twenty new works by esteemed Canadian choreographers including Serge Bennathan, Anik Bouvrette, Santee Smith and David Earle while with Judith Garay’s, Dancers Dancing Repertory Company (Vancouver) from 2000- 2015.  She and was featured on the front page of the Dance Current Magazine.

Ms. Dunbar created Dezza Dance in 2013 and has since then brought over twenty emerging professional dancers through Catalyst Mentorship Program, presented over fifteen emerging choreographers in the annual showcase, Leg Up! in partnership with Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre and created five full evening works featuring live string music that reached over 800 audience members.

A lead artist and facilitator with Arts & Health, Healthy Aging Through the Arts, Ms. Dunbar since 2015, she provides weekly workshops and performing opportunities for older adults 55+ in Collaborative Creative Dance.

One of few Canadians to teach the traditional Martha Graham Modern Dance technique, she has had the honour of instructing at various schools including Simon Fraser University, Arts Umbrella, University of Arizona, Centre National de la Danse (Paris, France) and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance (London, UK).

Dezza Dance had the honour of presenting Miki Orihara, Bessie Award winning Martha Graham Dance Company member (New York City/ Japan) May 19, 2019 at the Orpheum Annex. Ms. Dunbar shared the program with an excerpt of intergenerational work Deep Roots with Rachel Helten, Garrick Jang, Linda Rosenheck Juan Villegas, music by Martin Reisle and art projection by Eze Peralta.

Prior to the founding of the organization, Desirée has been an active community builder since 2004 where she partnered with Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre to produce dance concerts and dance programs that brought emerging, professional and cultural dancers together. She is the founder of LINK Community Dance Showcase still going strong over a decade later at the Roundhouse Community & Arts Centre.

Recently incorporated as a non-profit society in August, 2018, Dezza Dance was pleased to receive support from Deux Mille Foundation for their Dance Residency Project at West Point Grey Community Centre. 

Follow her on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/dezzadance & @ www.dezzadance.com/about-desiree

Desirée performing in her work Amuse Bouche with residency @ Aberthau Mansion

Selected Works

GLOW (2014)

Catalyst Mentorship Program 

Music: Kronos Quartet

Video trailer : David Cooper

45 minutes

Submerge (2015)

Sophie Brassard, Jenna Lee hay, Melissa Panetta

Music: Elliot Vaughan

Video trailer: David Cooper

50 minutes

At Last- Dancing on the Water's Edge (2016)

Catalyst Mentorship Program

Music: Etta James

Video trailer: Brenda Kent

50 minutes

A Port in the Storm (2014)

Catalyst Mentorship Program

Music: The End Tree

Video trailer: Brenda Kent

50 minutes

" It is my commitment to inspire and empower."

Philosophy

Dance is a celebration of the human spirit and an expression of both individuality and community.  I teach to inspire, connect, communicate knowledge and share my joy of dance. 

It is my goal to encourage the dancer to be confident in body, mind and spirit and to be excited to move outside their comfort zone.  From this foundation of self-worth it is possible to foster artistic development.  Dance training provides a platform to deepen one’s understanding of themselves and aspire to reach their potential. 

My method of teaching is based on a model of student-centred learning where the traditions of a codified modern technique can be interpreted for the individual body.  Based on their individual abilities, I assist each student to achieve excellence and arrive at their own destination.

 As an educator it is my commitment to inspire, empower.  I desire my students to be imaginative and socially conscious artists.  I feel I have succeeded as an educator when my students feel hopeful and capable.  

 In order to create an atmosphere that facilitates growth it is important to build trust through respectful communication, dialogue and critical thinking.  Students must be stimulated and engaged in the work and comfortable in asking questions. I encourage self-reflection to deepen their experience of the craft.  Through self-realization they will deepen their understanding of the choreographic process and their bodies and be motivated to investigate and discover inside and outside of the studio.  The classroom is a forum for exchange in which dancers share ideas through discussions and dialogue.  Through this support and interchange new knowledge is imparted.

Whether students are 8 or 80 years old I teach the my Gush Dance method incorporating authentic movement, dance technique, creative dance and self- healing.  In my experience as a dance educator at various conservatories, colleges and community centres I have witnessed over and over again the profound expression of authenticity and overall enhancement of one's life that the GUSH practice brings. It is an honour to facilitate these deep individual and collective shifts.

See examples of Desirée's classes and work with post-secondary students below