Janis Claxton Dance

The company is grounded in a training-based methodology resulting in a unique movement voice underpinned by Claxton’s passionate commitment to movement research. This allows the dancers to forge an exciting movement style. possessing an inherent lightness and ease alongside an earthy and energetic physicality, highlighted by a musical clarity and sensuosity: “Eloquent, gimmick free dancing at its best” (Venue)

Janis Claxton Dance has been based in Edinburgh since 2005 and gratefully acknowledges support via residencies and commissions from Scotland’s Dance Agencies – Dance Base, Citymoves. and Dance House as well as Creative Development, Professional Development and Project Touring awards from the Scottish Arts Council

In 2008 the company performed three highly successful and diverse programs:
Sweet Love – a piece for 15 women of 4 generations
Enclosure 44 – Humans an award winning durational improvised piece at the Edinburgh Zoo and Falling Light the company’s first Scottish based tour with the Edinburgh Quartet

The Dancers

Damaris Verduijn

Damaris Verduijn completed her dance training at The Rotterdam Dance Academy (The Netherlands) and Physical Theatre Module at Diakonos London in 2000, before going on to dance professionally for three years in companies in Germany and Holland, dancing for established choreographers such as Frédéric Flamand (BE) and Kristine Sommerlade (DE). She then returned to study Choreography at The ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Arnhem, The Netherlands, where she met with Janis Claxton and her work. Damaris has since performed in a variety of independent projects and venues in Holland and Germany. In Hungary Damaris performed at the Solo’s and Duo’s International Dance Festival 2007, Budapest, performing the solo ‘Meantime’ choreographed by Noa Shadur (IL) winning an award for best solo presentation. Choreographically Damaris won a Runner-up audience prize dance/choreography, for her choreography with first year Dance Students of ArtEZ Arnhem NL, in 2005. Most recently she has created two of her own works; the duet Blindelings with a blind amateur Dancer(2006/2008) and a duet made in collaboration with choreographer Isabella Lasser (AU) 2008 Rotterdam. Damaris has taught in schools across Germany as part of ‘Mind The Gap’ education program and teaches regular classes at a youth theatre school in Dordrecht, a bible and art school in Voorthuizen and a primary school in Rotterdam.

Tamsyn Russell

Tamsyn (NZ/UK) was born in Gisborne,New Zealand. She trained in Ballet from the age of 4 at Daine Logan School of Dance then moved to Tauranga to train at The Dance Education Centre directed by Prue Gooch. Tamsyn furthered her training by completing a Bacholer in Performing and screen arts degree majoring in contemporary dance at Unitec New Zealand. Since graduating in 2003 she has worked for many established and emerging artists in New Zealand. She has worked for Michael Parmenter’s Commotion Company, Chris Jannidies “Nok Nok Turn”, Ann Dewey “Queen Camel”, Raewyn Hill “White”, Fleir De Their “breaking Bride”,Katie Burton “Tick”, Julia Sadler “red and Black” and “Moth” and Vaccum Pact Dance company seasons Roam and The Lens. Tamsyn has also choreographed for the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra at Government house Auckland, New Zealand, The Auckland season of EQQUS for Paech productions and rehearsal directed for Guy Ryan’s solo show “The Fall Guy”. She was also a regular technique tutor for the Degee program at Unitec New Zealand and The Performing Arts.

Vikky Stewart

Vikky Stewart graduated from the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in 2004 after which she was based in London for 3 years working with Adrenalin Dance where she performed and taught dance workshops for children ages 3 – 16 throughout London including at Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park. She has recently performed in the Gaelic Opera ‘St Kilda’ in Stornoway and has performed in numerous independent dance projects including works by Merav Israel and Tamara Ashley. She has worked with director Angus Balbernie performing in ‘Meatyard’ at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol (Sep 2006) and will work in his next production at the CCA Glasgow (July 2008). Vikky joined Janis Claxton Dance in November 2007 and performed in ‘Sweet Love’ at the CCA (February 2008). She will be performing in Enclosure 44 – Humans at the Edinburgh Zoo and the Falling Light Tour in autumn this year. Vikky also recently choreographed her own work ‘Stranger’ in a residency Dance House Glasgow.

Fiona Jeffries

Fiona began dancing at an early age at the Morag Alexander School of Dancing Edinburgh where she studied RAD Ballet, ISTD Ballet, ISTD Modern and Scottish Country Dance. From 2004-2007 she studied at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance and has recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma with Postgraduate Performance Company: EDge08 at London Contemporary Dance School where she worked with choreographers including; Filip Van Huffel, Jonathan Lunn, Martin Forsberg, Luke Wells and Thom Rackett touring throughout the UK and Europe. This is Fiona’s first professional engagement with Janis Claxton Dance.

Adrienne O’Leary

Born in Queensland, Australia, Adrienne studied dance from an early age at various institutions including, the Queensland Dance School of Excellence where she achieved RAD Advanced 2 (Distinction) in Classical Ballet. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at Queensland University of Technology, graduating with distinction in 2008. In Australia, Adrienne performed several works created by choreographers including, Natalie Weir, Shaaron Boughen, Csaba Buday, Sarah-Jayne Howard, Harold Collins and Keith Hawley. She also performed at the 2008 Guangdong Modern Dance Festival in China. Currently based in Dublin, in 2009 Adrienne participated in ‘Who’s Zoomin Who’ residency at Dance Base under the direction of Michael Parmenter and Janis Claxton and was subsequently invited to join Janis Claxton Dance for research and development of ‘Humanimalia’ at Tramway, Glasgow and ‘Sweet Love’ performance residency at DanceHouse Glasgow. Adrienne will join the company for the further development and touring of Humanimalia.

Associate Performers

Libby Charlton

Libby Charlton (formerly MacDonnell) completed her dance training at The Arts Education School (London) and The Hammond (Chester) before going on to dance professionally for three years. She then returned to study Contemporary Dance and the Alexander Technique at De Montfort University where she gained a BA(Hons). Since 2003, Libby has been training and performing with Janis Claxton in England, Australia and New York. A Founder member of Janis Claxton & Co, she has worked with the company as a dancer, teacher and rehearsal director and has been a major influence in formulating the company’s movement style and artistic vision. Libby is a qualified teacher who has worked in a variety of educational and community settings, and is currently teaching at Cotham School (Bristol). Her other influences and interests include Aikido, Alexander Technique, and Contact Improvisation.

Elizabeth Rawes

Elizabeth spent her childhood in Shropshire, dancing from the age of five with The Stretton School of Dance and Drama. She continued her dance training at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, Dundee, graduating in 2005. Since then Elizabeth has performed at a variety of independent projects and venues including the Royal Albert Hall (schools proms) and the Robin Howard Theatre (LSCD, MA project). Elizabeth has travelled to America on an exchange program and performed at the Navajo Community School, Monument Valley, Utah. Her performance experience extends to film productions and site-specific work, most recently being filmed for a documentary “The Colour of Sound” by La Belle Productions, Glasgow. In 2006 Elizabeth was invited to join the Scottish Dance Theatre as an apprentice dancer. Since then she has relocated to Edinburgh and is a freelance dancer currently dancing with Janis Claxton Dance. She has performed in Angus Balbernie’s production Meatyard.Meat.Me at The CCA in Glasgow. Elizabeth has also undergone training as a community dance worker with Rubicon Dance, Cardiff and has taught in schools across Scotland as part of Scottish Dance Theatres’ education program and teaches regular classes at Dance Base, Edinburgh.

Skye Reynolds

Skye Reynolds is a physical performer, dancer and pilates teacher. Working with dance, theatre, film and puppetry Skye has choreographed for festivals in Iran and Britain and has worked with young people in post-war Europe. She has trained with Janis Claxton since 1995.

Clive Nicholas Andrews

Clive Nicholas Andrews has 20 years of performance experience a Clown, Improviser, Physical Theatre Actor, Dancer, Juggler and Fire Artist. He has worked solo and with companies in the U.K. and Australia. He is currently performing his own solo children’s show The Lighthouse Keeper, Aurora Borealis by Lazzi Experimental Arts Unit and with in works directed by Angus Balbernie.

Angus Balbernie

Angus Balbernie has directed over 60 dance and performance pieces internationally. He is an associate lecturer at Artez Arnhem, The Scottish School Of Contemporary Dance and Dartington College of Arts, guest professor of choreography at The Korean National University Of The Arts and he has been nominated for performance awards; Isadora Duncan award in the USA, and the KolnerTanz Prize.