Profile

Gearshifting Performance Works is a not for profit Arts Organization dedicated to the advancement of the art form of modern dance.  Committed to promoting modern dance, raising public awareness of the form and enriching the community, the Company has three main activities; these include the advancement of education, creation and presentation of modern dance.

Gearshifting Performance Works endeavors to create accessible and artistically daring works.  The body of work encompasses a broad range of new creation and respected traditional works.  The subject matter often stems from psychological reactions to environment and reflections upon trends in Canadian lifestyle. The presentations strive to be rewarding to both the audience and the creators as well as suitable for a broad range of audiences and performance venues.

Enriching the Community

Through new creation, commissions, re-constructions, performances, teaching, studio showings, talkback sessions and hosting guest artists, the Company makes art available to the public in various settings, both traditional and non-traditional, connecting with a broad and diverse audience of all ages and all walks of life. Committed to education, Jolene founded The Company’s pre-professional mentorship, SURGE, in 2005.

Brief History

Gearshifting Performance Works is a Winnipeg-based dance Company created in response to Jolene Bailie’s success as a solo performer.  Artistic Director, Jolene Bailie, began presenting solo work in the year 2000 and the Company became quite active in 2002 and since then has performed well over 250 full length shows, five cross Canada tours, nine international engagements, several smaller tours, two important projects of historical significance in New York City, re-mounted thirteen works by established choreographers, commissioned seven new works and created three solo works.

The Company was incorporated September 27, 2005 under the name Cuppa Jo Inc. and changed the name to Gearshifting Performance Works in 2007 to better reflect the company’s key vision and goals.

Board of Directors

Gearshifting Performance Works is governed by a Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors:

Jamie Jurczak

Geoffrey Devenney

Linda Drosdowech

Hugh Conacher

Jolene Bailie

Jolene Bailie

A conscientious and daring artist, Jolene Bailie is a dancer from Winnipeg cultivating her own unique and innovative career as a creator and performer.  Self-motivated and ambitious, her projects are invested with mystery, integrity and intimacy and are viewed with respect by the local and national dance community.

Jolene maintains an active and exciting schedule, and her artistic activities are often supported with public funding from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Manitoba Arts Council and The Winnipeg Arts Council.   At a pivotal point in her career, she has been presented on numerous occasions in Canada and abroad, including, Dancing on the Edge (Vancouver, 2001, 2004, 2005), The Her-icane Festival of Women’s Art (Saskatoon), The Guleph Contemporary Dance Festival, dance: made in canada (Toronto), The Inbound Festival (New York City), New Dance Alliance (New York City), The Limon Institute, The Bill Evans Dance Company (New York), 9th International Solo-Dance-Theatre Festival (Stuttgart), New Dance Horizons (Regina) and Studio 303 (Montreal, 2002, 2003, 2006).

As a soloist, she has worked with many celebrated choreographers and directors, including, Stephanie Ballard, Marc Boivin, Rachel Browne, Marie-Josée Chartier, Denise Clarke, Deborah Dunn, Bill Evans, Don Halquist, Allen Kaeja, Joe Laughlin, Jim May, Gaile Petursson-Hiley, Julia Sasso and Nina Watt.

Jolene was born and raised in Winnipeg where she began her formal dance training, as well a foundation for teaching, under the wing of Barbara Daurie at Focus Studio Dance. After which, she continued her studies at The School of Contemporary Dancers Senior Professional Program, graduating in 2000.  Jolene holds a B.A. Honors Degree in Theatre and the Gold Medal Award for Academic Excellence from The University of Winnipeg.

Jolene is also well-respected for her education activities and teaching expertise. Jolene has been a key faculty member of The School of Contemporary Dancers faculty since 1997, teaching classes in all levels of the school and annually preparing students for exams and performances. She earned a Teaching Certificate with an award of Distinction from The Royal Academy of Dance in 2001 and from 2005-2008 Jolene initiated and implemented a project-based mentorship called SURGE. Since 2008, she has continued to work as a mentor for talented, pre-professional students through Manitoba Arts and Culture Industries 70 hour Youth Mentorship Program. In September of 2009, Jolene also taught master classes at William Hobert Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.

As a dancer, Jolene has also worked with Bill Evans, Trip Dance Company, Ruth Cansfield Dance, Gaile Peturrson-Hiley and Stephanie Ballard. She has also performed as a guest artist with The Bill Evans Dance Company, Kaeja d’Dance and Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Jolene continues to further her own training on a regular basis with technique classes, workshops and seminars.

She seems to erase away irrelevance and is one of the few dancer/choreographers I’ve seen recently who presents an integrated, completed image of music, costume, lighting, and movement. I want to keep seeing Bailie’s work. She’s a great ambassador, for the north of the border contingent.

- Marilyn Russo, Attitude, The Dancer’s Magazine