Frances
Donohoe
Curriculum Vitae
Address: London, UK
E-mail:frannidonohoe@hotmail.com
Tel:07946458373
Dance Techniques
Graham, Ballet, Flamenco, Modern, Jazz, Folk, Contact Improvisation
Creative Movements, Aerial Silks
International Teacher & Choreographer
Private Lessons
Community Classes
School Collaborations & After School Classes
Collaborations & Multi-media
Dance Academies & Private Schools
International Performer
Founder & Director of Performacne Companies
Soloist
Artistic Statement
I believe that dance is a philosophy for life, this belief is the source for my intuitive and holistic approach to teaching and choreography and why I teach my dancers to respect and nurture their bodies. I believe that dance is essential for everyone: as people learn to connect to one another and the space around them their appreciation for others and their environment increases as does their level of empathy and care.
Work experience
Regular shows with Flamenco Passion at various venues in London.
2012-2013
Flamenco Pasión, London.
Languages
English
French
Memberships
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Full Equity Membership & Insurance
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Dance Teachers Registrar
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Dance Uk Membership
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Enhanced CRB
2010 - present
2010 - present
Sep 2011- Dec 2012
The Unhidden Collective “Fish Tales of Alaska” Barbican, London
Co-director, Choreographer & Performer
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Rehearsal director
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Production management
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Marketing & Funding management
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Team Facilitation
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Choreography & execution
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Teacher & Workshop leader: Taught weekly classes in 2012 for T.U.C members, classes became daily October-November leading up to the show. Lead workshops for community events.
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Multi media collaboration: I facilitated dialog and interaction of five different mediums.
Support in kind from Barbican Theatre and The Yard. Three week run at The Yard Theatre Nov 4- 24, 2012.
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Production Management
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Rehearsal Director & Workshop Leader
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Funding & Marketing
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Received Lottery Funding and part of Big Dance 2012. Potential future collaborations include: Eden Project, Schumacher, Kew Gardens, CAT, Hortiscupture and The Hornamun Museum.
Grade point average 3.9 out of 4.0 in all subjects and graduated in three years instead of four. (moved up a year)
Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance teaching and choreography
Graduated: Magna Cum Laude (high distinction)
Degree included 35-40 hours of dance a week and covered: Music studies, anatomy, kinesiology, dance history, theatre, stage lighting, stage management, creative movements, choreography, repertoire, point, movement analysis, Laban, Feldenkrais, Skinner Release, Alexander Technique, social studies, teaching techniques.
Degree culminated in a final project and show for each graduate. In addition I choreographed several pieces for student shows one of which was performed at the American Dance Festival.
Honours
2006 Nominated student speaker for the dance department at graduation.
2005 Choreography presented at American College Dance Festival.
This is the major festival for young choreographers in America.
2002-2006 Recipient of substantial financial aid awards based on merit.
-Kreielsheimer scholarship -Presidents scholarship
-Dance Department Scholarship -Nellie Scholarship
-Irvin Scholarship -Sparks Scholarship
1998-2002
Sitka High School Sitka, Alaska
Graduated with honours from Sitka High School in Sitka, Alaska.
2002-2006
Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle USA
(A prestigious university known for it's teaching methods and dance science)
Education
2012
Contemporary Dance Workshops with Flamcenco Carmen De Torres, Sevilla.
Week long workshops taught to flamenco company Carmen De Torres. I helped the company fuse contemporary and Flamenco for their company performance.
Weekly class in contact improvisation and movement therapy for a women's group taught at the Helen Bamber Foundation and Clinic for Refugees and Survivors of Torture.
I taught a secondary aged girls theatre group their wrestling choreography for their school play. Worked with girls on body issues and self defence techniques.
Community project: a team of 20 artists created a multi media production, retelling the Greek myth of Persephone. In two weeks we devised, choreographed and promoted the show.
Camden Health Lab, a multi cultural arts program for children suffering from poverty. I choreographed, taught dance classes and helped with the children's street carnival.
Collaboration with the Arcola Theatre and This is Rubbish on food waste management production and performance.
Weekly adult beginner classes culminating in public improvisation. Classes took place in various community centres around Northeast London.
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Building community through dance in Hackney.
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Providing dance & performance opportunities for people outside the dance community.
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Marketing
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Organising performance venues
Creation of original Flamenco fusion for the Fireweed pre-professional dance company.
The Tree House Gallery: a network of artist working to build an eco-friendly tree house gallery space in Regents Park for the summer of 2009. I organised bringing dance to the gallery encouraging interaction between professional and non-professionals.
Collaboration of Mbira musicians, sufi dancers and contemporary dance celebrating international diversity for University for Oriental and African Studies.
Beginners based group performance entitled “Moth Ball.” An audience member at Mothball stated,
“These dancers look as though they have been dancing together for years. It's hard to believe they are beginners and have only worked together for a few months.”
Created an original piece for the Amersham Dance Department's spring concert.
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Weekly classes ranging in age and ability from 2-65 year olds and from beginners to professionals.
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Class styles included: jazz, ballet, contact improvisations, exam repertoire, modern, & creative movements.
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Workshop leader and representative for the school.
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Choreographer & performer for the company.
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Choreographed end of year productions for the school.
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Term evaluations and student feedback.
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Attended weekly board meetings.
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Organised auditions and helped in selection of new students for school and company.
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Stage Manager.
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Directors Assistant.
La Manufacture Company toured throughout France with Ballet “Le Temps Avance.” My choreography featured as a major part of the ballet.
I danced solo roles in major works by some of America’s greatest choreographers: Martha Graham’s “Diversion of Angels,” and Jose Limon’s “A suit from Choreographic Offerings.” These projects were sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and choreography was taught by original company members.
I toured with Vendetta Mathea's Company in France, Martinique and China. We were invited to China by the Chinese government to perform in a festival celebrating the then upcoming 2008 Olympics.
2010-Present
Dance classes at Helen Bamber Foundation.
Jan-April 2011
School for girls, London
Fight Choreographer & Teacher
April-May 2010
Physical Theatre Performance of Persephone, London.
Performer, Choreographer, Costumier, Set Designer, Rehearsals Director, Marketing.
July-October 2010
Children’s Classes for the Camden Health Lab, Camden.
Teacher & Carnival Assistant
March 2010
Food Waste Feast Performance at Arcola Theatre, London.
Performer & Choreographer
2009- 2011
Interactive Improvisation Class, Hackney.
2009- 2011
Guest Teacher at Sitka Studio of Dance, Alaska.
June-August 2009
Choreography for Tree House Gallery, Regents Park.
Choreographer, performer, workshop facilitator, builder, team management, night security.
August 2009
Performance at SOAS, Russel Square.
December 2009
Performance for Antic Banquet Festival, Hackney.
Fall 2007
Guest Teacher for Amersham College of Performing Arts, Amersham.
2006-2008
Touring Company Vendetta Mathea, France.
Teacher, Choreographer, Performer & Director's Assistant.
2003-2006
Solo Roles Danced with Cornish Dance Theatre Seattle, Washington.
2000-2003
Touring Company Vendetta Mathea, France, China, Martinique.
Training & Development
1996-2004 Dance Workshops
Attended various summer dance workshops all Individually funding on merit bases.
Noted workshops and teachers include:
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2002 Strictly Seattle.
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2003 & 1997 Alonzo Kings of Lines Contemporary Ballet.
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1998 Gelsey Kirkland of American Ballet Theatre.
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2001 Gwynenn Jones of Alvin Ailey.
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1996 & 1999 Cornish College of the Arts.
2010-2013 Herbal Medicine Apprenticeship, London
I followed an apprentiship in herbal medicine with the licensed and practicing herbalist Crissy Cromer for 3 years.
Additional Information
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Fluent french speaker with 3 years experience teaching in a French University.
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Basic IT Sills
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Experienced visual artist.
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Bjj trained wrestler/self-defence.
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White water kayaking instructor.
Oct - Nov 2013
Teacher & choreographer La Manufacture School Aurillac, France
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I taught improvisation and partnering to students at La Manufacture ranging in ability and age from beginners to professionals aged 10 - 30.
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I started the project "Possessed" a research and development project exploring human interaction and power struggles. Conceived in the fall of 2013 this project was devised collaboratively with the aid of La Manufacture students at La Centre Chorégraphique Vendetta Mathea. I will be returning to France in the spring of 2014 to continue working with the students.
Oct 2013
Performer for The Tempest on Fire Wales, United Kingdom
Performed with the Tempest on Fire in Brecon Wales. Produced by the Welsh Department of Enjoyment.
Jan -Dec 2014
Artist in Residence for Sitka Fine Arts Camp Sitka, Alaska
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January
Baranoff Elementary School Residency - I taught a 5 week workshop in creative moments to the students at Baranoff School.
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January - May
Adult community dance classes in modern and social dance
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Febuary - December
Silks classes & certification in aerial silks - I started an aerial silks class that meets five times a week. Getting the group up and running has included: sourcing equipment, organising workshops with instructors from outside Alaska, planning and choreographing performances, studying to get my teachers certification in silks, liaising with the Hames Centre on enrolment, health & safety and marketing.
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January - December
Other performing & teaching activities - To date, this has included organising flash mobbing activities, performing at various local venues and teaching for the Sitka Jazz Festival.
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June
Teaching at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp - In June I will be teaching classes in modern dance, partnering and introduction to dance to students aged 5-14.
Jan - Feb 2014
Teacher & choreographe for Sitka Studio of Dance and Fireweed dance company Sitka, Alaska
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January
Taught ballet classes to students aged 5-18 for the Sitka Studio of Dance.
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January - Febuary
Contemporary point choreography for the Fireweed Dance Theatre - "Waterfall" was created to challenge the dancers movement vocabulary and introduce them to improvisation on point.