Isabelle Rousseau/Move and Be Moved
Isabelle Rousseau is a dance artist based in Amiskwaciwaskahigan (Edmonton), on Treaty 6 territory. She is a dancer, a choreographer and a teacher. She first trained as an actor at l’UQÀM in Montreal where she also started training in dance. There was a time when she was a professional radio announcer. She loves any form of communication, especially non-verbal.
She is devoted to dance as a catalyst for personal transformation and social innovation.
Her dance roots include experiential anatomy, authentic movement, contemporary dance, ballet, hip hop, traditional dance and butoh.
She loves creating engaging and welcoming spaces where all are welcomed to express themselves. Rave culture has been a long-lasting influence on her dance practice, as well as the decades she has spent alone in the studio exploring and creating. She’s grateful that nowadays many people join her in class or studios to dance and expand bodies and minds together.
Her career as a professional dance artist and teacher started in 2018 after leaving her role as Artistic Director at La Girandole. She’s been part of the Mile Zero Dance Education Team, teaches for the City of Edmonton, in schools all around the province, and more.
She’s thankful to the dance gods and goddesses she’s met on the way: Joséphine Cavaco, Sylvie Boisclair, Gerry Morita, Sonja Myllymaki, Good Women Dance Collective, Foolish Operations, and many exciting and talented colleagues.
Her combined experiences make her the individual and the artist she is now: a dancer that loves games: a teacher with a knack for words; and a choreographer who’s inspired by all of the people she works with. After several years mostly teaching, she’s ready to get back to creating and performing. She’s excited to be part of Kathy Metzer’s most recent project, Life Map 25.
Isabelle has received the Power Corporation Award (2006) and the Edmonton Trust Fund (2013). She has received several grants for her work in theatre and dance.
