Janis Brenner - Mellon Learning Associate, Fall 2008

Janis Brenner is on one of three guest choreographers creating works for DANC 253 Repertory Performance. She comes to Bates as Mellon Learning Associate in collaboration with the Music Department and the Theater Department and will create a performance piece for the Fall concert of Professional Works in November 2008.

Bio: JANIS BRENNER is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, singer and teacher, and is Artistic Director of JANIS BRENNER & DANCERS in New York City. She has toured in 30 countries and is recognized as a “singular performer” with a multifaceted artistic range. Honors and grants include: New York Dance & Performance Award (“The Bessie”) for her performance in Meredith Monk’s Vocal Ensemble, Lester Horton Award for Choreography in Los Angeles, Leach Fellowship for Outstanding Achievement, 2002 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, The Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and U.S. State Department (tours to Indonesia), Asian Cultural Council (tours to Taiwan and Indonesia), The Trust for Mutual Understanding (tours to Russia), UNESCO (tour to Senegal), and a commission for the interdisciplinary, intergenerational work THE MEMORY PROJECT from the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris. Janis’s work has been commissioned and restaged on more than 40 companies and colleges throughout the world. She is a sought-after teacher to conduct workshops in technique, improvisation, composition, repertory and vocal work. Since 1990 she has performed with Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble (recording on ECM Records). She was Co-Choreographer with Michael Moschen (including PBS’s “Great Performances”), and was a soloist with Annabelle Gamson’s company and with the Murray Louis Dance Company. In 1997, BUZZ Magazine in Los Angeles wrote, “Dancer/choreographer/singer, Brenner is that rare contemporary performer who can do it all.”