Compagnie Flak is a contemporary dance company based in Montreal Canada, under the direction of Venezuelan born choreographer José Navas. Creator of more than 30 pieces, his work can be recognized by his audacity and the usualness of the characters of his creations. Today, the words that best describe his work are: abstraction, sobriety, intensity and depth.

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Dancers

The currents dancers of José Navas/Compagnie Flak are:

Alejandro De Leon

Born in Mexico City, Alejandro began his dance training at the National School of Modern Dance of Mexico. Upon completing the program, he was awarded a two-year scholarship at the School of American Ballet in New York City. He has danced professionally for the Hartford Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Compañía Nacional de Danza in Mexico City where he collaborated on a series of choreographic works that have garnered awards in different festivals throughout France, Cuba and Mexico. In 2004, Alejandro began dancing for different choreographers and contemporary dance companies in Montreal —Sarah Bild, Coleman Lemieux & Compagny, Sinha Danse, Hélène Blackburn’s Cas Public and Lina Cruz’s Fila 13. Concurrently, he has been pursuing studies in fine arts at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University, completing three short films. Alejandro has been dancing with José Navas/Compagnie Flak since 2007. retour

Sarah Fregeau

Originally from Owen Sound, Ontario, Sarah began her dance training in classical ballet. Later moving to Toronto, she graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, where she performed repertoire by Peggy Baker, Danny Grossman, Sasha Ivanochko, and Louis Laberge-Côté, among others. Sarah’s additional training includes two years of study at Ryerson University’s dance program as well as workshops in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and France. Sarah participated in the Springboard Danse Montréal workshop in 2008, performing in a new work by Sylvain Émard, and again in 2009, where she worked with José Navas/Compagnie Flak. This past July, she had the pleasure of travelling to New York City for a three-week residency at The Stella Adler School of Acting, taking part in a new creation as part of the studio’s MAD AIR Residency program. Sarah joined José Navas/Compagnie Flak in August 2009. retour

Hanako Hoshimi-Caines

Born in Montréal, Hanako studied at L’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, from which she graduated in 2001. Her professional career began with a diverse range of companies and independent choreographers, such as the Caravan Stage Barge Company (traveling theater ship), Ohio Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and choreographer Louis-Martin Charest. In 2003, she joined the company Cas Public (Hélène Blackburn) with whom she worked until 2006. Since then she has worked as an independent dancer with choreographers Jane Mappin, Emmanuel Jouthe (Carpe Diem) and Edgar Zendejas (Ezdanza). In 2007 and 2008 Hanako undertook two personal projects of great significance to her: the creation of Little Bang Theory her first full length piece created with singer-songwriter Lhasa de Sela and a mentorship project with Ireland-based Fabulous Beast Dance Theater, as well as Ted Stoffer, dancer and choreographer for Les Ballets C. de la B. Hanako joined José Navas/Compagnie Flak in February of 2008. retour

Alexandre Jolicoeur

Alexandre completed his training in ballet and contemporary dance at Ballet Divertimento in 2009. He has worked with many choreographers including Gioconda Barbuto, Edgar Zendjas, Sidra Bell and Hélène Blackburn. Alexander’s additional training includes programs at The Julliard School, The School of Toronto Dance Theater and Springboard Dance Montreal 2009 among others. He has worked with Edgar Zenjdeas/Ezdanza and also danced in the 25th anniversary production of the Nutcracker with Ballet Ouest de Montréal. In spring 2009, Alexandre took part in the Festival T.Danz in San Sébastian, Spain and participated in workshops lead by Philippe Cohen (Grand Théâtre de Genève) and Urtzi Aranburu (Netherlands Dance Theatre). He joined José Navas/Compagnie Flak in February 2010. retour

Jordan McHenry

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jordan is a 2005 alumnus of The Colorado Jazz Dance Company, directed by Zetta Alderman. Jordan has trained internationally at programs including Jacob’s Pillow, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance as well as Springboard Danse Montréal. He is privileged to have performed repertory by Alonzo King, Darrell Moultrie, Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Martha Graham and Ohad Naharin. A 2009 graduate of The Ailey School/ Fordham University BFA program in New York City, he’s performed in Ailey’s Memoria alongside Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and danced in The Holland Dance Festival with The Ailey School. Jordan’s additional professional credits include Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theater Co. as well as Montreal based companies EZDanza and Cas Public. Jordan joined José Navas/Compagnie Flak in August 2009. retour

Lindsey Parker

Lindsey is a native Californian. She is a graduate of State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase with a BFA in Dance Performance —summa cum laude— and a certificate in Arts Management. At SUNY Purchase she performed repertory by Jacqulyn Buglisi, Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris, Lauri Stallings, and Paul Taylor. In 2005, Lindsey was hosted by the Tanaka Foundation in Japan as a cultural representative of the US and SUNY Purchase. In 2006 she was the recipient of the Thayer Fellowship, a prestigious award given by New York State to outstanding SUNY arts’ graduates. In New York City she has worked with Takehiro Ueyama, Patrick Corbin, Nai-Ni Chen, and Pascal Rioult. To date, she has performed in fourteen American states and eight European countries. She joined Compagnie Flak in 2006. retour

Lauren Semeschuk

Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Lauren began her training as a Ukrainian dancer. Early on, she toured with Pavlychenko Ukrainian Folklorique Ensemble, which took her across Canada, the United States and Brazil. In 2005, while dancing with the Saskatchewan Contemporary Ballet, she took part in the Lieutenant Governor’s Celebration of the Arts. Lauren eventually moved to Toronto, Ontario, where she received her BFA with Honors in Dance at Ryerson University in 2008. Throughout her years there, she worked with choreographers Robert Glumbeck, D.A. Hoskins, Allen Kaeja, as well as other renowned faculty. In the summer of 2008, Lauren took part in Springboard Danse Montréal in Montréal, Quebec, where she studied choreography by Crystal Pite for [bjm_danse]. She recently had the opportunity to perform new work by choreographer Pamela Rasbach in the 2009 Dance Ontario showcase. Lauren joined José Navas/Compagnie Flak in January 2009. retour

Ami Shulman

Ami was born in South Africa. She graduated with a BA Honors in Performing Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, where she was awarded the Amanda Holmes Choreographic Prize, a scholarship that enabled her further training at the School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam. Ami arrived in Montreal in 2001. She has worked for Montreal-based choreographers Marie Chouinard, Pamela Newell, Chantal Lamirande, Deborah Dunn, Erin Flynn, Hinda Essadiqui, Zab Maboungou and American-based musician and video artist Joseph Rovan. She has also worked with South African choreographers Gregory Maqoma and Vuyani Dance Theatre, Inzalo Dance, PJ Sabbagha and the State Theatre Opera. She has taught dance at the University of the Witwatersrand, Concordia University, the Rotterdam Dance Academy, Ballet Divertimento, Studio 303 and Springboard Danse Montreal. Ami joined Compagnie Flak in August 2004 and currently works as a rehearsal director for the company. retour

Emilie Tremblay

Originally from Lac-St-Jean, Emilie started dancing at Le Prisme Culturel dance school. She then attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School before settling in Montreal. She continued her training at Ballet Divertimento and has taken part in different workshops including Springboard Danse Montréal, Transformation Danse, the O Vertigo’s Stage Intensif and professional workshops with AH-HA! Productions. As an emerging artist, Emilie has also worked with Bouge de là and apprenticed with Louise Bédard Danse for the creation of Enfin vous zestes! She has also danced for Valerie Buddle, Gibson Muriva and Ghislaine Doté Virtuo Danse. She joined José Navas/Compagnie Flak in February 2010. retour