CV’s Workshop Dartington
Vincent Cacialano M.F.A. (PhD equivalent) - Since 1986 I have worked in the performing arts. I create work and collaborate on a regular basis with artists in Contemporary Dance, Physical Theatre and Live Art. I am currently a member of the newly formed Duck Project (founded 2008), working under the direction of Katie Duck. In 1995 I co-founded Magpie Music Dance Company alongside Duck and Michael Schumacher amongst others (1995-2008). As an instant composer and real time performer I have worked with artists such as Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith, Kirstie Simpson, David Zambrano, Pauline DeGroot, Benoit Lechambre, Julian Hamilton, Annouk Van Dijk. My solo and group compositions have been presented throughout Europe and The United States. The Washington Post described my work, as “a combination of strong execution and off beat humour, the works over all impression is that of freshness, vitality and sure footed ability”. My education and training is from the rich heritage of American Modern and Avante- Garde Dance, studying with artists such as Alwin Nikolais, Erick Hawkins, Martha Curtis (Pauline Koner) and Chris Burnside (Bella Lewitsky) and dancing in works by Meg Harper (Cunningham) and Sharon Kinney (Paul Taylor). I hold a Master of Fine Arts (equivalent to a PhD.) in Dance. I also hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, including Acting and Voice for Stage. I am currently a Senior Lecturer and Program Leader at The Manchester Metropolitan University (2006). I am also a member of the editorial board of the Dance and Somatic Practices Journal. From 1993-2006 I worked as a lecturer at The Amsterdam School of The Arts’ School for New Dance Development, Jazz Theatre Department and the Modern Dance Department.
Alan McDermot trained at the Feldenkrais International Training Centre in the U.K. from 2003 – 2007 and is a listed member of practitioners with the Feldenkrais. He previously studied at The School For New Dance Development in Amsterdam 1994 - 1996 with Susan Rethorst, Trude Cone, Nancy Stark Smith and Katie Duck among others, earning a Dutch postgraduate diploma in Higher Education. From 1982 – 1985 he studied visual art at Middlesex University earning a BA (Hons) Degree. He has taught movement research in The Netherlands (AHK), Italy (Atelier delle Arti) and the U.K. for Hampshire County Council (Community Dance) University Of Lincoln (Feldenkrais Method) and is currently teaching The Feldenkrais Method and Choreography at the Manchester Metropolitan University. Alan is also a collaborator in The Blue Stocking Social Club project with Dr. Sharon Smith and Vincent Cacialano. He has performed in work by Susan Rethorst, Vincent Cacialano, Maida Withers Dance Construction Co, Adelaide Bentzon, Manact and Dance House Dance Co. and studied with Pauline de Groot and Scott Clarke among others
Katie Duck is a dancer, choreographer and teacher. She left the United States in 1976 to live in Amsterdam, Holland and toured throughout Europe as a performer in solo productions. In 1979, she moved to Italy where she formed the company GROUPO. She toured through out Europe with her one-hour productions Rutles, The Orange Man, Brown eye Green eye and Mind the gap and participated in free lance improvisation collaborations with Julyen Hamilton, Kristie Simpson and Steve Paxton among others. In 1986 she accepted a senior lecturer position at Dartington College of Arts teaching for the theatre department as head of the choreography course. In 1991 she accepted a part time post at the AHK Hooge school voor de kunsten dance departments in Amsterdam teaching movement research, improvisation, composition and technique. Throughout her career she has worked with music artists who share her passion for live time performance and the integration of music, text and dance within compositions for performance. She has performed in duet and in ensembles with music artists Han Bennik, Andy Moore (the EX) and many others. Katie created the Company Magpie Music Dance Company in 1995-2005 in Amsterdam to reflect her work with improvisations musicians. Magpie toured in Europe, the USA, Asia and Scandinavia and received national funding from 2002-2006 for tours within the Netherlands from the Nederland fonds voor the podimkunsten. Katie Duck has been teaching workshops internationally since the mid 70’s alongside her professional career as a performer and choreographer. She integrates her current research making each workshop completely unique. Presently runs an improvisation summer course and workshop series in Amsterdam and is the tutor and stage coordinator for the SNDO choreography department and improvisation teacher for the Modern Dance department at the AHK Hooge School voor de kunsten. She continues to direct, perform (Duck Projects) and conduct her workshops touring yearly in Asia, the USA, England, Scandinavia and Europe.
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