Kyle Syverson, co-founder, choreographer, dancer
Kyle, Waskesiu Reel Rave Festival, 2010
Kyle dance video link
I cannot remember a time when I did not dance. For me, dance is a passion, a job, and a way of life. Training is an obsession, choreography is engrossing, and performing, akin to magic.
Starting ballet and gymnastics at age 5, I completed RAD Intermediate Ballet, and competed nationally in gymnastics. Lucky for me, I discovered Modern dance, and Contact Improvisation!
Modern dance training has taken me from Saskatoon to Vancouver (Rob Kitsos, Helen Walkley, Jennifer Mascall), South Africa and Marseilles (Veronique Larcher.) In 2016, a month of Axis Syllabus in Brazil with Frey Faust - a modern dance technique based on efficiency and momentum - greatly influenced my movement practice. A workshop in 2018 with Hofesh Schecter company in Banff was also very impactful. In October 2019, I studied Noguchi Taiso with Mari Osanai, a somatics and movement master.
Traveling is always combined with dance studies for me - tango in Argentina, salsa and flamenco in Mexico and Contact Improvisation in 8 different countries.
Contact Improvisation (CI), a movement practise that explores touch and physics, has held the most fascination for me. Attending the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation in 2012, 2014 and 2018 allowed me to train with internationally renowned teachers: Nita Little, Ray Chung, Daniela Swartz and Eckhart Mueller, Angie Hauser and Chris Aiken. I have had the good fortune to do two 3 week intensives with Nancy Stark Smith, the co-founder of CI.
Leviathan Studio on Lasqueti Island, BC, devoted to the study of dance improvisation and CI, has been essential in my development as a dancer. I trained at Leviathan through summers 2010-2018, with many influential teachers, including: Martin Keogh, Katarina Erickson, Karen Nelson, Andrew Harwood, Alicia Grayson and the Kaejas. From 2016 to 2018, I taught and co-led residencies at Leviathan.
I have taught CI in Saskatoon since 2010. I freelance and teach for dance companies, theatre companies and university classes: Sum theatre (2015), Gordon Tootosis Nikaniwin Theatre (2016- 2019), University of Saskatchewan Drama Department (2010, entire semester, 2015, 2018, 2019.) I was guest teacher for the Free Flow Dance WIP series, teaching modern and CI, (2016 - 2019) and for Dance on the Prairies (2016-17.) For the elementary school program, LIVE ARTS, I led creative dance workshops in both French and English in 2013 and 2016. I love teaching different forms of dance, learning more with every new class and body. I currently teach Somatic Ballet and CI to adults, and improvisation to people aged 8-91!
Performing for me is a powerful tool of self-reflection and communication. I am principal dancer with Freeflow Dance Theatre (2008-2011, 2016-2019). I have performed my solo choreography at Back Alley Antics, in the WIP series (2014, 2016, 2018), in the Colorado Fringe Festival (2013), and at Lugo at the Remai Modern (2016, 2018.)
With Freeflow Dance Theatre, I am currently working on a project with Shannon Litzenberger that will be presented at the Remai Modern in June, and a new piece with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra to be showcased in March.
As co-founder/director of KSAMB Dance Company since 2009, I choreograph site-specific works based on CI. Recent highlights include “Panopticon”, a thrilling and ambitious performance for Lugo 2018 at the Remai Modern and “Trust me? Here. Now” a durational, roving outdoor performance with seven dancers for Nuit Blanche Saskatoon 2019. A complete record with photos and video can be seen at http://ksamb.weebly.com
KSAMB projects were endorsed by both the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Dance Saskatchewan Incorporated in 2018 and 2019. An SAB micro-grant funded “TimeLab” - a focused exploration of themed movement improvisation with a musician. A DSI grant funded “Time Shapers” - a series of improvisation classes with 11 dancers of diverse ages and backgrounds culminating in a performance. KSAMB has just received an SAB Independent Artist grant for our new work “Heartbeats”.
The body of information is endless and so the fascination and investigation continue. I will never stop dancing.
I cannot remember a time when I did not dance. For me, dance is a passion, a job, and a way of life. Training is an obsession, choreography is engrossing, and performing, akin to magic.
Starting ballet and gymnastics at age 5, I completed RAD Intermediate Ballet, and competed nationally in gymnastics. Lucky for me, I discovered Modern dance, and Contact Improvisation!
Modern dance training has taken me from Saskatoon to Vancouver (Rob Kitsos, Helen Walkley, Jennifer Mascall), South Africa and Marseilles (Veronique Larcher.) In 2016, a month of Axis Syllabus in Brazil with Frey Faust - a modern dance technique based on efficiency and momentum - greatly influenced my movement practice. A workshop in 2018 with Hofesh Schecter company in Banff was also very impactful. In October 2019, I studied Noguchi Taiso with Mari Osanai, a somatics and movement master.
Traveling is always combined with dance studies for me - tango in Argentina, salsa and flamenco in Mexico and Contact Improvisation in 8 different countries.
Contact Improvisation (CI), a movement practise that explores touch and physics, has held the most fascination for me. Attending the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation in 2012, 2014 and 2018 allowed me to train with internationally renowned teachers: Nita Little, Ray Chung, Daniela Swartz and Eckhart Mueller, Angie Hauser and Chris Aiken. I have had the good fortune to do two 3 week intensives with Nancy Stark Smith, the co-founder of CI.
Leviathan Studio on Lasqueti Island, BC, devoted to the study of dance improvisation and CI, has been essential in my development as a dancer. I trained at Leviathan through summers 2010-2018, with many influential teachers, including: Martin Keogh, Katarina Erickson, Karen Nelson, Andrew Harwood, Alicia Grayson and the Kaejas. From 2016 to 2018, I taught and co-led residencies at Leviathan.
I have taught CI in Saskatoon since 2010. I freelance and teach for dance companies, theatre companies and university classes: Sum theatre (2015), Gordon Tootosis Nikaniwin Theatre (2016- 2019), University of Saskatchewan Drama Department (2010, entire semester, 2015, 2018, 2019.) I was guest teacher for the Free Flow Dance WIP series, teaching modern and CI, (2016 - 2019) and for Dance on the Prairies (2016-17.) For the elementary school program, LIVE ARTS, I led creative dance workshops in both French and English in 2013 and 2016. I love teaching different forms of dance, learning more with every new class and body. I currently teach Somatic Ballet and CI to adults, and improvisation to people aged 8-91!
Performing for me is a powerful tool of self-reflection and communication. I am principal dancer with Freeflow Dance Theatre (2008-2011, 2016-2019). I have performed my solo choreography at Back Alley Antics, in the WIP series (2014, 2016, 2018), in the Colorado Fringe Festival (2013), and at Lugo at the Remai Modern (2016, 2018.)
With Freeflow Dance Theatre, I am currently working on a project with Shannon Litzenberger that will be presented at the Remai Modern in June, and a new piece with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra to be showcased in March.
As co-founder/director of KSAMB Dance Company since 2009, I choreograph site-specific works based on CI. Recent highlights include “Panopticon”, a thrilling and ambitious performance for Lugo 2018 at the Remai Modern and “Trust me? Here. Now” a durational, roving outdoor performance with seven dancers for Nuit Blanche Saskatoon 2019. A complete record with photos and video can be seen at http://ksamb.weebly.com
KSAMB projects were endorsed by both the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Dance Saskatchewan Incorporated in 2018 and 2019. An SAB micro-grant funded “TimeLab” - a focused exploration of themed movement improvisation with a musician. A DSI grant funded “Time Shapers” - a series of improvisation classes with 11 dancers of diverse ages and backgrounds culminating in a performance. KSAMB has just received an SAB Independent Artist grant for our new work “Heartbeats”.
The body of information is endless and so the fascination and investigation continue. I will never stop dancing.
