Raena Waddell
I am a contemporary dance artist with a 25-year history of contributing to Edmonton’s vibrant arts community. My dance artistry is grounded in two interwoven pursuits: a daily commitment to movement training that hones my craft, and a dedication to sharing that knowledge with dancers of all ages and abilities. Dance is not simply my vocation — it is how I pray, process, and participate in the world.
I know very well dance is fleeting but also accumulative and so my training is never-ending as I participate in weekly classes with my peer group and dance elders in contemporary, ballet and functional cross-conditioning. I am inspired by modern dance icons Isadora Duncan and Merce Cunningham and at the same time I’m in awe of my local dance community as we continue to show up and age with dance.
Alongside creating movement and performing 17 works across Western Canada to date, I am a dedicated teacher, offering classes in contemporary dance and somatic modalities such as Pilates, Garuda, and Barre for organizations including the City of Edmonton, Good Women Dance and Mile Zero Dance. My creative philosophy is rooted in a trinity of listening, considering and trying: Listening deeply to what is being shared, considering all possibilities, and embodying ideas through movement without clinging to permanence.
With proud dance advocacy in my heart, I frequently sit on arts juries and have been recruited for adjudicating dance festivals ensuring that dance continues to be valued as both an art form and a transformative practice.
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