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galina borissova full cv -english


Galina Borisova is a dancer and choreographer whose work has a very strong theatrical aspect. She first makes a significant impression at the American Dance Festival’96, where she was participating in the International Choreographers Residency Program. In 1998 she received first prize for her performance

“A Never Ending Story” in Gronigen/Holland at the International Competition for Choreographers. She has created more than 20 projects of her own, that have been presented in Bulgaria, Holland, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic, Sweden and USA. As a dancer she worked with such choreographers as Louise Bedard/Canada, Lenka Flory/Czech Republic, Simone Sandroni/Italy, Elsa Limbach/USA, and Kubilai Khan Investigations/France.

Since 1999- until 2002 Galina Borissova has represented Bulgarian dance as a partner of AEROWAVES - European network, initiation by the Place Theatre in London. Member of DANCE ACROSS BORDERS - she has been with the group several times. Galina has been supported by the Grand theatre, Groningen in 2000 who has been producing and presenting her "ATARAXIA" project in Sophiensaele, Berlin & Dance Festival- Bythom, Krakov, and International Theatre Festival-Varna.

Grand theatre also supported her male piece “Alfred’s best friends” produced by Culture 2000 program of EU, CoDaCo , Red House, Sofia, DCM Foundation, Bucharest.

Galina has been worked with the Swedish composer Rikard Borggard for “Lost Chicks”, “Ataraxia”, and “Alfred’s best friends” projects.

She also worked for different theatre projects in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Sweden, Holland and USA.

Her works has been presented for AEROWAVES in Amsterdam in 1998, Sylesian festival in Bythom, 2000/ Varna Summer Festival 2000,1,2,3 /Dance Across Borders 1999 in Politalu - Estonia , 2001 in Gothenburg- Sweden, 2006 Regard de Scene- France, Bard College, Richard Fisher Center- USA 2007/ Spring Festival in Utrecht in 2003, Hanover Festival 2003, Central Station at dance Theatre Workshop in New York 2003 , Balkan dance platform in Sofia , Bucharest , Skopje.

Galina received residency at PACT Zollverein, Essen in 2004 where she did her new solo work “Juanita Hildegard Bo” (the production of Red House, Sofia).

The solo has been presented in Goteborg for 24 kvadrat space, presented for East West festival in Holland for Groningen University calibration and received golden medal in Belgrade for best solo performer.


EDUCATION:

1985 Galina Borissova is graduated from the State Choreographic School, Sofia in classical ballet

1987,88,89 Attends the summer courses at Palluca Schule, Dresden

1996 Participated at the American Dance Festival - International Residency Program, at Duke University, NC.

1998 Won first prize for her project “A Never Ending Story” International Competition for Choreographers, Groningen, The Netherlands.

As a choreographer she did more than 20 stage projects.

SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE:

1995 Courses at Quebec University and Contemporary Dance School - LADDMI, Montreal

1996 Guest choreographer - International Residency Program, American Dance Festival, Duke University, NC

1999 Attended International Workshop festival, IFW, London - teachers: Sofia Kalinska, Mladen Materic and Caret Newell.

2000 January - She participated in exchange program between 10 composers and 10 choreographers, workshop organised by The Royal Festival Hall, London.

2001 Participated in Butos workshop with Masaki Ivana

2002 Scholarship for DCM Bucharest . Workshops with Mark Tompkins and Lisa Nelson - Improvisation and David Zambrano

Since 1987 Galina worked as a teacher for different theatres & formations with independent artists. Worked with New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Duncan Center in Prague, Norderlingen school in Groningen.

Since 1992 she is in the faculty as a former teacher of Dance Theatre Program at the Theatre Department - New Bulgarian University

Galina pursued study first in Graham, Horton and Limon techniques. Since 1995 she studied Laban Analyses, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Body- Mind Centering, Contact Improvisation, Psychomotor therapy, Body-Alignment, Dr Moshe Feldenkrais’ method, as well as Bulgarian folk dances and Historical Cord dances.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

1986,87 Experimental Theatre, Gabrovo

1988,89 Theatre Atelier 313, Sofia1991 Dance School, Serres, Greece

1994 Theatre Studio 4XC, Sofia

1992 since now New Bulgarian University, Sofia

1997 Duncan Center, Prague

1999 National Academy for Film and Theatre Arts “K.Saraphov’

2003 Norderlingen Schoool, Groningen, Holland

As a free-lance choreographer she made various choreographic forms- solo, duos and group projects. Worked with actors, dancers, students and civilians like.


CHOREOGRAPHIES:

2008- “Tchaikovsky” –solo improvisation / Nomadic dance academy, Red House, Sofia/ "Чайковски"- с балет Арабеск, премиера-Театър София

2007 “Smile of the mind”- 7 dancers, Serbian National Theatre, Novi Sad

2005"My dog likes Renata" - with the actress Lidia Stefanova and her dog Roni

2004 “Juanita Hildegard Bo” solo, premiered at 24 Kvadrat in Goteborg, Sweden, production of Red House, Sofia, golden medal for best solo performer, Zemun, Serbia

2003 “La Sonnambula” solo, has been presented for Le Subsistances festival in Lyon, National Theatre in Novi Sad, Serbia and Central Station festival for Dance Theatre Workshop in New York

2003 "From your bones-A Duel?" Hannover festival Floor van Keulen/Guy Weizman

2003 “Galina’s freinds”- Norderlingen theatre school, Grand Theatre, Groningen

2003 “Alfred’s best friends” – for 4 male dancers, Spring dance festival, Utrecht

2002 "Lost Chicks" – for 3 female artists, Theatre Giljotin, Stockholm

2002 "Petya, Sonya &Lidia" with 24 students of New Bulgarian University, Sofia

2001 "Looking for Versavia" with the company Ballet Arabesque, DMT, Sofia

2001 "17th of October" Balkan Dance Platform, Sofia

2001 "Defile" solo, Gotenborgh, Sweden, Dance Across Borders

2001 “Transitions”, Hippodrome Theatre, Gainesville, FL

2000 “Ataraxia” 8 dancers , Production of the Grand Theatre, Groningen, Holland,

co-partners-Sophiensaele, Berlin, Odavision, Sofia

1999 “Destination in the rough” - solo improvised performing work “Sfumato” Theatre

1998 "Attractive theories and post-modern rituals" National Palace of Culture, Sofia

1997"A Never Ending Story" -independent group- Military club, Sofia

The project received with first prize for choreography, Groningen, Holland 1998

1997 "If I have 3 days ...in the 13th century", Duncan Centre, Prague

1996 "Gallantry of the time"- New Bulgarian University production, Theatre Sofia

1996 "Passion simple"-American Dance Festival, USA

1995 "The Ball"- Theatre Studio 4XC, Theatre 4XC, Sofia

1994 "The Spiral" - Alexander club, Sofia

1993 "French Quadrille for 8 people” project of New Bulgarian University

1992 Concert for Tzikabaka’s school, Serres, Greece

IMPORTANT TEACHERS:

1977- 1985 Marina Koledenko, Russia/ Kalina Bogoeva/ Elisaveta Marinova, Bulgaria / Ballet - Vaganova method

1988,89 Migel Lopez, USA/ Horton technique, Jean Gebron/ Modern

1990-93 Elsa Limbach, USA / Bartenieff Fundamentals/ 1995 Loise Bedard, Canada/ practical experience/ 1996 American Dance Festival - Wendel Beavers/ developmental movements/ Mark Haim - Modern / Martha Mayers- choreolab/ Jaclynn Villamil- Laban Analyses/ Eric Franclin - Body-Alignment / Daniel Lepcoff - Contact Improvisation , David Zambrano - Improvisation, Caret Newell-Dr Moshe Feldenkrais’ method/ Buto- Masaki Ivana / Lisa Nelson- Improvisation / Mark Tompkins- Improvisation/ Xavier le Roy- workshop


Reviews about Galina’s works:

“She is in my judgment, an excellent resource in the modern dance world. I much admire her work as teacher and choreographer, basing this judgment on what I saw during the 1996 American Dance Festival’s season. Moreover she is a very pleasant, attractive and congenial person, all over adding to her effectiveness in her various pursuits.”

Martha Mayers

ADF Dean & Professor Emeritus - Connecticut College

Galina is one of the small numbers of Bulgarian dancers and choreographers who is truly proficient in contemporary dance techniques. Because of her special interest and dedication, she has developed these skills in spite of the relative lack of opportunity in Bulgaria to study modern forms. She is an extremely gifted dancer with extraordinary natural ability aided by great intelligence."

Elsa Limbach, choreographer, USA

"A Never Ending Story" is a special piece of work, made in an original way with good understanding for theatrical aspects. The exiting movement concept is deal with inventively, in an inspired way Borissova puts bodies in motion throughout the piece. She can make her statement visible. She created her own universe and a poignant sense of humor as well."

Report of the international jury, Jan .97, and 6th competition for choreographers, Holland

“Galina’s choreography reveals an original creative thinker. Her work is highly theatrical

and full of surpasses. It is also witty, an unusual quality in contemporary dance these days. She is capable of independent work, she is obviously a successful director of dancers, actors, and civilians alike. I have no doubt that Galina is strongly motivated to find new direction in the area of dance-theatre she has chosen for herself.”

Linda Tarnay

Assistant Chair, Dance Department, New York University

Balancing strength and vulnerability, Borissova resisted pigeonholing as both artist and character. Her dance is, I think, about ordinary habitual labor, about carrying on despite exhaustion or boredom and about the relief, delight and glamour of dreaming and fantasizing outside one’s personal box. Her solo “Juanita Hildegard Bo” wigged-out into a dizzy, yet sympathetically controlled, essay on exaggerated female allure. Borissova got hold of some fans and, after flapping them behind her back, let these symbolic wings fall to the floor on which she herself was soon crumpled. This was camp with a nugget of pain in it, and some scarcely hidden suggestions of joy.

Donald Hutera, Writing for The Times, Time Out, Dance Europe, Dance Now and others

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