10 years in the making....

The title photo for this post is from 2017 when Mayumi and I, (Sid), were performing our co-choreographed duet (Parenthesis). The photo is by Aria Evans.

On Feb. 7th 2014, I, registered ‘le form contemporary dance theatre’ as a sole proprietorship. Thrilling and terrifying all at once. I was fortunate to have two engagements; one at Dance Matters in April 2014 (which included meeting and hiring Mayumi Lashbrook!) and one at the Hamilton Fringe Festival in 2014 which premiered Storm and Silence, allowing me to connect with the supportive and inspiring community of artists in Hamilton. In 2016, we registered for not-for-profit status becoming Form Contemporary Dance Theatre. 

Looking at the past ten years, there is so much to say and reflect upon, so much learned, and many many triumphs (which included a lot of heartache and butt loads of hard work). I am in the process of applying for funding which would allow me to take time to research, review and reflect on the process, the journey. However without a doubt the truth of the matter is that none of the brilliance of Aeris Körper would be without its incredible people who have worked here and continue to build up dance in Hamilton. 

In 2019, Mayumi and I chose a new name for this company: Aeris Körper. Aeris (a name that means spirit and energy) combined with Körper (the German word for body). because and reflected It is a mantra for how we work, and a symbol of our diversity in leadership and collaboration. Our primary objective has been to encourage exploration, sharing, connection, and innovation. The company works in collaboration with all kinds of artists, community members, mentors, and audiences. We have been aiming to inspire all who care to join us to explore the endless possibilities that live in creativity, movement, and dance. Our hope is that we foster self-awareness and deeper human connections. As a company, we believe that finding these connections through creating art and dance together will make the world a better place. In pursuit of this goal Aeris Körper creates, self-produces and presents dance, as well as provides a variety of levels of dance-based education. Be sure to come March 20-22, 2024 to our inaugural HERE&NOW dance festival at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and to keep your eyes peels for our Open Studio for Movement Dance Research in June 2024.

Thank you dear friends for being part of our journey. We would love to hear from you. Share your memories with us HERE.

THANK YOU: 

Mayumi Lashbrook, Sid Ryan Eilers, Josh Taylor, Alyssa Nedich, Heryka Miranda, Colleen Snell, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Andrea Nann, Shannon Kitchings, Rainer Noack, Burlington Student Theatre, Shannon Fraser, Hamilton Fringe Festival, Tanya Crowder, Bonnie Kim, Shahar BInyamini, Denise Fujiwara, Robin Lacambra, James Farrington, Bruce Farrington, Quintin Emmons, Matthew Mcfazdean, Anna Chattterton, D Solleza, Michael Mortley, Danielle Denichaud, Mikaela Demers, Shanika Lewis -Waddell, Theatre Aquarius, Jennie Esdale, Zee Float, Lisa Pijuan Nomura, Robin Macdonald, Damian Norman, Nicole Meehan, Caryn Chappell, Grace~Grace, Tony Rappoport, Michael Emmons, Mateo Galindo Torres, Dusk Dances, All the 67 choreographers presented at PROSPECTS, The thousands of audience members

Thanks to Our Sponsors from 2016:

Peggy Baker, Leni Calosing, Bruce and Dorte Farrington, Pat Fraser, Hugh Gordon, Susan Macpherson, Jennifer Sanford, and Nancy Sumioka

Thanks to Our Kickstarter Backers in 2016: 

Robyn Alfonso, Andrew Asa, Leni Calosing, Erica Charis, Tanya Cronin, Abe Dyck, Aviva Fleising, Patricia Fraser, Carlo Gabriel, Alejandra Galindo, Angela Galindo, Federico Galindo, Nathalie Galindo, Richardo Galindo, Josephine Grayson, Jan Green, Soraya Hass, Aviva Huberman, Allen Kaeja, Alecia Korkowski, Chris Lashbrook, Kiyomi Lashbrook, Mary T. Lashbrook, Ian Robert Lau, Kate Lowe, Catherine Macdonald, Robyn Macdonald, Jaipaul Massey-Singh, Kevin Mckague, Trevor Mclain, Kathy Mcpherson, Tony Mella, Lindsey Mrav, Alyssa Nedich, Joanna Nemrava, Mika Nonoyama, Morgan Passi, Kenneth Pearl, Dawid Rentel, James T. Riley, Kathy Sorel, Stephen Steele, Anisa Teipar, Clarivet Torres, Amber Wood, Michael Yokota, Kerwin Yuzon

Thanks to Our Kickstarter Backers in 2019: 

Wolf Owczarek,  Jessica Germano, Samantha Sargent, Kiri Figueiredo,Felicia Chang, Jacob Walker, Nicole Faull, Emily Rapley, Tenille Chen, Haley Dimeck, Nicole Rosove, Johnathan Chow, Alyssa Lai, Rachel Fracchini, Trevor Copp, Devlin Keenan, Dr. Yuri A. Alatishe, Tanya Cronin, Erica, Alison Wright, Rose Hopkins, Chris Cawthray, Aleksandra Mandic,Patti Walker, Colleen Snell,Gary Chaimowitz, Cathy Gordon, Amber Wood, Laura Kappel, Carlo Gabriel, Kelly Wolf, Ann Hoang, Faith Boughan, Jordana Deveau, Will Hamilton, Sierra Chin Sawdy, Cassandra Bowerman, Teiya Kasahara, Jessica Bullock, Umar Shameem, Betti Sheldrick, Chris Lashbrook, Avery Beatty, Nicholas Croft, Defining Movement Dance, Jeremy Freiburger, Jennifer Keating, Jamshed Turel, Robyn Alfonso, Christian Peterson, Christopher Green, Nicole Cattenazzi, Robert Ting, Anne PK,Enho Kuo,Hugh Gordon, Hillel Lavery-Yisraeli, Emmablue, The Creative Fund , Rima Toop, Deborah Smith, Roxanne Korpan, Serwaa Daley , Sedina Fiati, Jamee Valin, Anja , Oriah Weirsma , Tyler Gledhill , Edita Atteck , Julia Garlisi, Stewart, Andria Guitard Henry , Michael Yokota, Caitlin Amodeo, Lee Ann Swackhammer Downhun , Lisa Stanton ($40), Heidi Strauss, Heather Knabe,  Caryn Chappell, Andrea Nann, Natasha Poon Woo, Kate Lowe, Mika Nomoyama, Anthony Rapoport, Jan Lashbrook Green, Kyle Svara, Dörte Farrington, Peggy Baker, Catharine Katic, Chris, Ron Chappell, Julie Balen and Norman Demers.

Thanks to ourKickstarter Backers in 2021: 

Wolf, Alyssa Nedich, Unwrap Theatre, Danielle, Nicholas Croft, Chris Lashbrook, The Creative Fund Backer Kit, Morgan, D&P Consulting, Kate Lowe, Chris Bronicheski, Paul Malozewski, Sharon Lee, Vern Wellington, Peggy Baker, Kyle, Trevor Copp, Kate, Amber Wood, Ron Chappell, Alyssa Lai, Haliegh Eady, AOA, Mathew MacFazdean, Deborah Smith, Allie Blumas, Shannon, Catharine Katic, Jody Boston, Josh Taylor, Tony Rappoport, Shan, Lindsay Mrav, CB-C, Tanya Cronin, Kunji Ikeda, Lauren, Samantha Sargent, Lorna Lewington, Paul Bonder, Sid Ryan Eilers, Julie Balen and Norman Demers, Heather, Melissa Samad, Tracey Norman, Meliisa Murray-Mutch, Bethany Hodge, Heidi Anderson, Jeanette Eby, Ilana Grace, Miriam Edghill, Chris Cawthray, Erika, Laura Kappel, Erin Amadio, Kylie Thompson Dance, Kelly Wolf, Heryka Miranda Pellecer, Claus Sprotte Kofod, Aaron Joel Craig, Raven Alison, Justine Comfort, Candice, Christian Peterson, Elena Vazintaris, Cassandra, Anne Prat-Kalonji, Claud, Radha Menon, Madeline Krusto, Radha Menon, Rose, Karen, Jennifer, Leni Calosing, Jan Lashbrook Green, Alejandra, Amanda Pye, Hemantika Mahesh, Nicole Catenazzi, Karla, Tasha Van Dinther, Michelle, Sean K, Hugh Gordon, Rebekka, Sarah, Enho Kuo, Lilia Leon, Deanne Galati, Susan Himel, Emma Smith, Megan English, Kayla Chambers, Ceilidh Degano, James Farrington, Leah, Porch Light Theatre, Karen Fetter, Caryn Chappell, Irvin Chow, Elly Desson, Cree-Norquay Field, Franc, Kiyomi Lashbrook     

Thank you dear friends for being part of our journey. We would love to hear from you. Share your memories with us HERE.