Biography
Rebecca Sawdon is an independent contemporary dance artist based in Winnipeg, MB. She enjoys the privilege of living and working in Treaty 1 Territory. Her experience includes work as a dance interpreter, performer, artist educator, choreographer and producer. She is the founder and artistic director of Sawdon Dance. Her resume includes a diverse variety of professional contracts with many reputable companies and artists, including Odette Heyn-Projects, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, Company Link, M-body, New Dance Horizons, amongst others. Rebecca has toured, performed and taught across Canada, trained professionally in Europe, and has been the recipient of many artistic grants. She has served as a peer assessor for local arts councils. Rebecca holds a BA Honours Degree in Dance from the University of Winnipeg and is a graduate of the Senior Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers.
Rebecca has extensive experience working as a dance educator, mentor and rehearsal director. Her unique perspective is valued by educators and school boards who regularly contract her to develop and deliver arts programming. She has worked with diverse groups, from pre-professional training students, to at-risk youth at a corrections facility. She loves connecting with students of all ages and abilities. Rebecca regularly teaches residencies throughout Manitoba for Manitoba Arts Council’s: Artists In The Schools program. She is also an artist-educator for St. James-Assiniboia School Division’s: The Integrated Arts Program, working with youth, while training teachers on how to incorporate dance/movement into curriculum.
Rebecca’s past seasons have been busy with artistic activity, including activities in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Alberta, British Columbia and Europe. Highlights include a month-long choreographic residency in rural Iceland, residencies in Germany, and training intensives in Italy and Austria. She also danced across Western-Canada, performing with the award-winning band The Mariachi Ghost. Rebecca is thankful for many rich opportunities that have imparted inspiration, artistic reflection, and international perspective.
Sawdon Dance is committed to enriching Manitoba’s cultural industry, supporting artists and presenting innovative new dance works. Since the company’s inaugural production in 2014, Rebecca has achieved great success, including productions, touring performances, research residencies and organizing low-cost professional technique classes for the Winnipeg dance community and abroad.
After being derailed by the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020, Sawdon Dance is especially excited to be back on track! The company was in a creative process with Toronto-based dance artist, Darryl Tracy, in April and May, and also hosted his fabulous Spring Master Classes for the community. In June, Sawdon Dance proudly presented it's newest live production: Threshold, at Rachel Browne Theatre. Threshold is a double bill of evocative new works, merging contemporary dance, installation art and performance.
Most recently Sawdon Dance performed with The Mariachi Ghost in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. Currently the company is performing in NAfro Dance's - Moving Inspirations Dance Festival at the Gas Station Arts Centre, Nov 3rd at 7:30PM. Future plans include the creation of two new screen-dance films. Visit our events page for more information.