FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Media Contact: Michael Trent, Artistic Director, 416-367-1800, michael@dancemakers.org

December 3, 2009
Toronto, ON

Dancemakers and the Centre for Creation announce Jeanne Holmes as Producing Director

Clive Veroni, Chair of the Board of Toronto’s Dancemakers and the Centre for Creation, announced today that Jeanne Holmes has been appointed to the position of Producing Director. Veroni says, “Jeanne is one of the leading dance administrators in the country and enjoys an international reputation.  We are tremendously excited that she will be bringing her enthusiasm and expertise to Dancemakers.” 

During her 20 years of experience in the cultural sector, Holmes has demonstrated a strong commitment to the development and presentation of dance and live performance in Canada. She comes to Dancemakers after a stellar career at Harbourfront Centre, working in various departments in key leadership roles before assuming the position of Dance Programmer in 2001. Other engagements within the dance and culture fields include Company Manager for two editions of the Canada Dance Festival; financial management for Toronto-based visual artist James Lahey and volunteer positions as Chair of both Dusk Dances and the CanDance Network of Canadian dance presenters.

Holmes says, “I am thrilled to be joining Dancemakers.  Under the artistic direction of Michael Trent, the Company and Centre are breaking new ground in contemporary dance and performance and I am excited to bring my passion and energy to this collaborative and exceptionally creative team.”

Holmes joins the company as it celebrates its 35th season. Recently named Toronto’s Best Innovative Dance Company by NOW Magazine, Dancemakers animates a space where contemporary dance creation, presentation and development provoke unexpected discoveries, sensations and meanings. It invites artists and publics - locally, nationally and internationally - to engage in dance that mines the relationships between bodies, environments, sounds and images, all starting from the here and now.

Working in close collaboration with the Artistic Director, the artistic and administrative teams and the Board of Directors, Holmes will be responsible for the resource management and financial and administrative operations of the organization.

Holmes will assume her responsibilities in January, 2010.

-30-