Ryerson Theatre School

Ruth Madoc Jones

Director, Richard III

Ruth Madoc-Jones is an award-winning performer, dramaturge and director and co-founder of Les Vaches (the ecstatics, Jekyll and STEM). Directing credits include SPIN by Evalyn Parry (Hysteria Festival/Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), The Enormous Radio by Michael Healey (Diaspora Dialogues), Madness of the Square by Marjorie Chan (Cahoots Theatre Projects/Factory Theatre), them & us by Tracy Dawson (Theatre Passe Muraille), Bird Brain by Vern Theissen (LKTYP, 2009 Dora Nomination Best Production), Three Birds by Joanna Laurens (Ryerson Theatre School), Stitch – an a cappella opera by Anna Chatterton and Juliet Palmer, Dora nomination Best Opera), a nanking winter by Marjorie Chan (Nightwood Theatre/Cahoots Theatre Projects), The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey (Theatre Passe Muraille), The Gladstone Variations – Requiem for a Hotel by Mike McPhaden (Convergence Theatre, 2009 Dora nomination Best Direction and 2007 NOW Magazine Outstanding Production), Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare in the Rough) and Dreary and Izzy by Tara Beagan (Native Earth Performing Arts). She has dramaturged and directed work for the Eastern Front Festival, the Rhubarb! Festival, the Groundswell Festival, the Paprika Festival, the Hysteria Festival and the Summerworks Theatre Festival. Ongoing work in development includes Free as Injuns with Tara Beagan, and a new solo work by Marie-Josée Chartier. Upcoming work includes Hum by Susanna Hood (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), Bird by Sonja Mills (Union Eight Theatre) and a new opera with Queen of Puddings. Ruth is an active member of the Wrecking Ball and is on the board of directors for the Summerworks Theatre Festival. She was the recipient of the 1998 K.M. Hunter Award and the 2008 John Hirsch Director's Award. Ruth is a graduate of the Acting Program at the National Theatre School of Canada.

Patrick du Wors

Set and Costume Designer, Richard III

Patrick du Wors

Training: BFA (Victoria), MFA (Alberta), Royal Shakespeare Company

Design credits include: Death of a Salesman, As You Like It & The Fantastics – Blue Bridge Rep (Victoria), Bird Brain – LKTYP (Toroto), Betrayal – Theatre & Co. (Kitchener), Chasing the Moment – Arcola Theatre (London, UK), Turn of the Screw & A Number – Belfry Theatre (Victoria), Hysteria, A Doll’s House, Dialogue and Rebuttal & Trojan Women – Studio Theatre (Edmonton). Nowhere Revolution created in association with the Belfry Theatre, Dark of the Moon & The Monument - Phoenix Theatres (Victoria)

Assistant design credits include: Royal Shakespeare Company - Complete Works Festival; Dirty Dancing & Cabaret, London West End; Un Ballo in Maschera – Netherlands Opera; Peter Grimes – Norwegian National Opera; Dr. Dolittle, UK Touring; Flying Dutchman – Royal Opera Covent Garden

Patrick is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.

Matjash Mrozewski

Distinguished Guest Artist in Residence

Matjash Mrozewski

Matjash Mrozewski graduated from The National Ballet School in 1993 and danced with The National Ballet of Canada, Le Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo.

In 2001 Mrozewski began to devote himself exclusively to choreography. Since that time he has created works for, among others, San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto Dance Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, National Ballet School, West Australian Ballet, Houston Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, The Royal Swedish Ballet, Washington Ballet, The Royal Ballet and most recently, The Australian Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo.

In 2003 Matjash created his first full-evening work, Break Open Play, for the National Arts Centre's Youth Commission for Dance. He has choreographed or adapted dance for numerous Canadian dance films as well as Dancers for Life, The Canada Dance Festival, fFIDA, Dusk Dances, Fashion Cares, A Celebration of the Works of Canadian Artists for HRH the Prince of Wales, the opening ceremonies of the XVI International AIDS Conference, and corporate events for MAC Cosmetics and the luxury brand Hermes.

After five years away from the stage, Matjash returned to perform in his own work for ProArteDanza in 2007, and appeared with The National Ballet of Canada as a guest artist in Marie Chouinard's 24 Preludes by Chopin. He subsequently performed with Chouinard's company in the choreographer's Orpheus and Euridyce.

New works for 2009 included My Love for Tulsa Ballet, 30-Minute Beauty Makeover for The National Ballet School and Pavillon d’Armide for Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. Dénouement (a duet for Elena Lobsanova and Noah Long of The National Ballet of Canada) won the inaugural Choreographic Award at the Eighth Annual Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize.

This past summer Matjash was commissioned to create a for The National Arts Centre’s 40th Anniversary gala, which he performed with Jesse Robb, joined onstage by cellist Amanda Forsyth and the NAC Orchestra, under the baton of Pinchas Zuckerman. He also choreographed the film Nureyev (directed by Moze Mossanen and starring Nico Archambault) as well as Tarragon Theatre's new musical Mimi (or A Poisoner's Comedy).

Matjash has also received two Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Best Choreography.

Valerie Calam

Choreographer, Ryerson Dances

Valerie Calam Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Valerie studied dance with Sherry Walsh Academy and the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. She worked with the Danny Grossman Dance Company in 1998-1999, and again in 2006 and 2008. Under the artistic direction of Christopher House, Valerie worked with Toronto Dance Theatre from1999-2009, as well as many independent choreographers. Her choreographic work Parliament was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding new choreography in 2007. In 2007, she attended the New York Film Academy to study digital filmmaking, and in 2006 and 2008 she traveled to Vienna, Austria to attend the Impulstanz Dance Festival where she trained in hip hop, house, funk, breaking, b-boying, popping and locking. Working under the name VICE VERSA, she has designed sound for dance works by Matjash Mrozewski, Allison Cummings, Tina Fushell, Tanya Crowder, Hit and Run Productions and many of her own choreographies. She is currently teaching contemporary styles at Ryerson University, creating a new dance work Children of the Triangle in collaboration with Luke Garwood and drummer Paul Shepherd, as well as performing in pieces by James Kudelka with Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie. She is the drummer in the band “The Tight Ship”.

D. A. Hoskins

Choreographer, Ryerson Dances

D. A. Hoskins (www.dahoskins.com) is a freelance choreographer and visual artist based in Toronto. Recipient of the Clifford E. Lee Award from the Banff Centre for the Arts, Hoskins has created over fifty choreographic works. His work has been presented at the Art Gallery of Ontario as part an evening examining Sexuality and Censorship, as well as, a retrospective on artist Barbara Hepworth. An excerpt from his first full evening work The Mortality Songs was presented at the Holocaust Perspective at the Toronto Jewish Community Centre and later presented in its entirety as a fundraiser for the Toronto People with AIDS foundation. Hoskins choreographic works include commissions from the Elora Music Festival, Pendrecki String Quartet, ArtsUmbrellaVancouver, Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Hubbard Street Dance ll, Dancetheatre David Earle, Open Ears Festival, Ballet Jorgen Canada, Toronto Dance Theatre, Ballet Kelowna and Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra. In 2008 D.A. Hoskins instigated The Dietrich Group (www.thedietrichgroup.blogspot.com) - a platform that facilitates interactive exchanges in art to ultimately create potent interdisciplinary works with in dance. Since its inception The Dietrich Group was has created two full evening works – the sold-out production of ARTFAG at Buddies in Badtimes Theatre and PORTRAIT, which premiered at the Theatre Centre in January 2009. Upcoming for D.A. Hoskins is a commission for Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto premiere of a work for Peterborough’s "Old Men Dancing" – which has Hoskins choreographing on 10 senior male performers and the development of two new works for The Dietrich Group PARIS1994 (premiering in May 2009) and The Land of Fuck (a fable).

Vicki St.Denys

Choreographer, Ryerson Dances

Vicki St.Denys is one of Canada’s leaders in the field of jazz dance and has toured internationally as a performer, teacher and choreographer. Her unique blend of authentic jazz music and original choreography along with a solid technical dance foundation has made her a most sought after dance artist both here in Canada and the United States. Currently, she is a full time faculty member at Ryerson University where she teaches jazz, creative studies, musical theatre, is a resident choreographer and also produces Choreographic Works. Vicki has choreographed for television, film, video, theatre and most recently opera, including The Cunning Little Vixen, Carmen, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Dido and Aeneas for the Opera as Theatre program at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Other credits include: original works, Suite Second Thoughts performed in Austria at the 8th international Ballet Festival; Pulse and Interstice at Premiere Dance Theatre in Toronto; new works for ROTO Dance Festival in Rochester, NY and Ballet Kelowna’s 2009/2010 season; and a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, AB, which garnered a Sterling award nomination for choreography. In June 2009, Vicki presented her paper titled "Death of Jazz: Metamorphosis and Reconciliation" at the Society for Canadian Dance Studies conference. Vicki also serves as an assessor for the Canada Council for the Arts, Dance Division. From 2000-2007 she was jazz pedagogue and choreographer for the dance program at The Banff Centre for the Arts. Vicki holds a Master of Arts degree in dance from York University.

Darryl Tracy

Choreographer, Ryerson Dances

Darryl C. Tracy is a Toronto based independent dance artist (choreographer, interpreter, community member and teacher). Darryl has studied with many teachers across Canada and in the US, most influential Peggy Baker, Marc Boivin, Heidi Bunting, Ginelle Chagnon, Pat Miner, Julia Sasso, Edie Shaw, Risa Steinberg, and Brian Webb. He has appeared in original works by many exciting choreographers including Darcey Callison, Michelle Silagy, Heidi Strauss, Gerry Trentham, Marie-Josee Chartier & Linda C. Smith, Patti Powell, Holly Small, Jenn Goodwin, Michael Trent, Michael DuMaresq, Julia Sasso (Sasso dances) among many others. Along with Strauss, he is co-Artistic Director and dancer of Four Chambers dance projects. They have commissioned duets choreographed by Deja Donne (Italy), Sarah Chase, Leasandra Dodson, Sylvain Emard, Conrad Alexandrowicz, Guillaume Bernardi, Marie-Josee Chartier, Julia Sasso and Yvonne Coutts. He and Strauss were nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore award (2005) for their performance in Rustling Shadows choreographed by Deja Donne. IN 2004, he was selected as one of Toronto's top dancers by NOW magazine. Darryl has been a company member with Sylvain Emard danse in Montreal, Quebec for the past 4 years. Darryl’s choreography has been seen with: The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Cawthra Park Secondary School (2003-2005), 3M Dances, Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, Series 8:08 Series Finale (May 2004), Dusk Dances, The White Room (2005) Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. Darryl sits on the faculty of The School of the Toronto Dance Theatre and is a regular teacher at 509 Dance Collective, CCDT, Dance-Teq, National Ballet Summer School, and guest teaches throughout GTA as well as in the Montreal, East Coast and the US. He is a part-time private physiotherapist for Physio-Logic Neurological Rehabilitation Clinic. Upcoming projects include new creation at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, College Jean-Eude in Montreal and his upcoming self produced show 'inherencies and other disorders' (Fall 2010).

Eda Holmes

Director, Serious Money

Eda Holmes’ credits as a theatre director include: Calgary Opera – Faust; Shaw Festival – In Good King Charles Golden Days, The Little Foxes, Tristan, Floyd Collins, Love Among the Russians – Chekhov’s Vaudevilles, Blood Relations; Scenes from Anataol; Tarragon Theatre – The Pessimist, The Optimists, Helen’s Necklace, Little Mercy’s First Murder (winner of seven Dora Mavor-Moore Awards including one for direction), Care, Alice’s Affair, Music for Contortionist; Factory Theatre - Trout Stanley, The Gwendolyn Poems; Theatre Junction Calgary - The Optimists (nominated for 5 Betty Mitchell Awards); Harbourfront World Leaders Festival - Pina Bausch; A Tribute; Canstage – Lucy, Side By Side By Sondheim; GCTC – The Fall; The Storm Collective - Standing Female Nude; Ryerson University Theatre School – The Miracle Man, Red Noses, Mad Forest, Big Love, The Hostage, Fuenteovejuna; National Theatre School of Canada – Iphigenia 2.0; George Brown Theatre School – Laius. Eda was a soloist with San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet and William Forsythe’s Frankfurt Ballet and is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. Upcoming work includes, Michel-Marc Bouchard’s new play The Madonna Painter at Factory Theatre. Eda has just been appointed Associate Director at the Shaw Festival.

Camellia Koo

Set and Costume Designer, Serious Money

Camellia is a Toronto based set & costume designer. Previously for Ryerson, she has designed The Dwarfs/Flu Season, Lion in the Streets, Caucasian Chalk Circle, and Pericles (as a student). Other recent designs include set designs for Billy Bishop Goes to War and The Guardsman (Soulpepper); lady in the red dress, Singkil, paper series and Banana Boys (fu-GEN); In Good King Charles Golden Days and The Stepmother (Shaw Festival); and sets & costumes for East of Berlin and Bashir Lazhar (Tarragon). Other collaborations include Cahoots Theatre Projects, bCurrent, Modern Times Theatre, Nightwood, Native Earth Performing Arts, Fujiwara Dance Inventions, Great Canadian Theatre Company, and The Second City (Toronto and Chicago). She is the recipient of four Dora Awards and shared the 2006 Siminovitch Protégé Prize. She is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School and Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design (U.K.).