Andrew Skeels
CHOREOGRAPHER
Andrew Skeels is a choreographer and the artistic director of Skeels Danse Montréal. His work has been presented at the Paris Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Tanz Theater International Festival Hannover, Palais des Festivals Cannes, Théâtre de Suresnes Jean-Villar, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Kansas City Ballet, Festival Quartiers Danses Montréal, Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, West Wave Dance Festival San Francisco, Colorado Ballet, and Festival Ballet Providence. He is the winner of the 2015 Hannover Think Big Choreographic Competition and received the 2013 Prix Coup de Cœur du Public from the Festival Quartiers Danses Montréal.
He is a former dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and has performed works by Jiri Kyliàn, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Stijn Celis, Didy Veldman, Marco Goecke, Stephan Thoss, Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine, and numerous other choreographers.
His choreographic language reflects his ever-expanding curiosity and love for the art of dance. He draws influence from his training as a film editor and applies a cinematic approach to his choreography. He challenges dancers, asking that they move with daring speed, breathtaking fluidity, and bold release. His work is detail-oriented, and he works patiently to perfect movement quality, musicality, and nuance inside his work. He provides a supportive, collaborative work environment, which enables dancers to take bold chances.
He offers multiple points of entry into his work in order to connect with his public – story, dynamic performance, innovative movements, and powerful music.
“The audience is the final element that gives life to a dance.” Andrew Skeels
