Dancer 'a revelation within the dance milieu'
By Rossland Telegraph
Anyone who has seen the posters is aware that a young woman born and raised in Rossland has become a highly accomplished dancer, and that she will be performing at the Charles Bailey on February 5.
Paige Culley began dancing at the age of three, when former Rosslander Kathy Wallace first started her off with a dance class. After that, her mother recalls that while other children were playing outside or at other games, young Paige would be busy creating dance shows. She didn’t return to formal dance classes until she was ten; then, Rhonda Michallik of “Steps Dance Centre” introduced her to all the genres of dance. Carol Bonin gave her a solid foundation in ballet technique, and Renée Salsiccioli of Kootenay Dance Works provided help during Paige’s last year of high school, and helped confirm for Paige her love of modern dance.
During Grade 12, her mother reports, Paige was dancing seven days a week. After graduation, she enrolled in the three-year dance program at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and has been dancing professionally ever since.
Paige has been based in Montreal for several years. From 2011-2016, she performed extensively with Compagnie Marie Chouinard. Her work as an interprète includes collaborations with artists including Daina Ashbee, Daniele Desnoyer, Dana Gingras, Lucy May, Tedd Robinson, Marten Spangberg, and Doris Uhlich, and more in new media and music contexts.
Paige has been awarded a Hnatsyshyn Developing Artist Grant for Contemporary Dance (2009), the 2012 danceWEB scholarship at ImPuls Tanz, and most recently, the 2017 “Prix DÉCOUVERTE de la Danse” award at the Prix de la Danse de Montreal. This last award is presented to a dancer, choreographer or collaborator “who stands out as a revelation within the dance milieu.”
Local audiences have an opportunity to see this award-winning dancer on February 5. Tickets are available at the Charles Bailey Box Office, 250-368-9669, or online at www.trail-arts.com
