helisdance
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Feb 25, 2012 (14 years) |
- | 2 | 4 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
Feb 25, 2012 (14 years)
- Last activity
- -
- Topics created
- 2
- Replies created
- 4
Bio
Helen Thorsen has a BA in Dance from Columbia College, with an emphasis in contemporary dance & dance therapy. She has a background of study that includes Butoh, Graham technique, Effort/Shape Laban dance, Yoga, Tai Chi, Skinner Releasing, Ballet and Pilates. Her work is grounded in universal principals of open heartedness, acceptance and presence.
Thorsen was Artistic Director of 627 Space in Chicago. She was also a founding member of Yuni Hoffman Dance Theater and Dappin’ Butoh. Her choreography has been viewed widely in Chicago, Chile, London and Seattle. With Mary Cutrera she co-founded LastLeg , which produces their choreography and supports emerging dance and aerial art in Seattle.
She has studied contemporary dance with Karen Steele, June Finch, Jan Batoszek, Shirley Mordine, The Alwin Nikolais Company , The Graham Company, Bill T Jones and others. She performed in Bill T Jones Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1995. She began her study of Butoh in 1981 with New York artists Eiko and Komo. After moving to Seattle she began Butoh practice with Joan Laage dancing with Dappin’ Butoh, for 9 years. She received an Illinois Arts Council grant and award for her choreography “Tango”. Thorsen is Managing Director of the DAIPANbutoh Collective.