Profile
The core artists of The “605” Collective Dance Society are Lisa Gelley, Shay Kuebler and Josh Martin. These Vancouver-based dance artists are committed to the creation and performance of new work inspired by both urban and contemporary dance. The freedom found in this cohesion, along with the merging of their distinct bodies and perspectives, has awakened an exciting, fresh, and unpredictable aesthetic to capture new audiences.
The group first formed in Fall 2006, out of a small live/work studio, apartment #605, located in East Vancouver. These young artists began training each other, sharing their experience, and colliding ideas and information from their various dance backgrounds to create a unified voice and establish a unique style that represented each of them. With the group’s extreme versatility and invited guest artists (such as Sasha Kozak, Maiko Miyauchi and Amber Funk Barton), the collective began experimenting and creating by using one another as the canvas for their ideas and visions. Through a constant collaboration, the collective members continue pushing past their individual limitations, moving towards new possibilities.
The 605 Collective has emerged with a clear direction and strong vision to offer a highly athletic art form, with extreme physicality derived from the human experience. Their work continues to test and challenge the full capacity of all involved dancers while acknowledging their unique qualities as both performers and as personalities. In various combinations, this cooperative team is exploring new paths and creative methods to build performance experiences that are powerful, visually stirring, and ultimately engaging. As part of a new generation of creators, The 605 Collective aims to become a company known for its movement innovation and physically demanding works, valuing collaboration as an essential tool for new directions in dance.
The collective has been presented at numerous events and venues in Vancouver but perhaps the most exciting activities are taking place over the next year when 605 will be touring their newest work, AUDIBLE, throughout the province on the Made In BC Network in Fall 2010 and then again nationally through Quebec and Atlantic provinces in Spring 2011. Although primarily presented at contemporary dance festivals and series, the collective’s integration of different genres has granted the means to reach the broadest spectrum of audiences in a wide variety of performance settings, including site-specific work. Their athletic, fast-paced and playful movement has attracted hip-hop fans, families with children, classical dance lovers and the rest of the contemporary arts community.
Through the BC Arts Council, The Canada Council for the Arts and other art supporting organizations, 605 has continued the exploration of their work and expansion of their repertoire. Along with their own creations, the collective is proud to commission established artists to work directly with the company, building strong mentorships to support 605’s expanding ambitions. With artistic residencies at The Dance Centre, Firehall Arts Centre, and Usine C (Montreal), the group has since outgrown their small eastside studio and in March 2009, The 605 Collective incorporated as a non-for-profit society as the next step in the organization’s development.
Founding board directors are: Andrea Gunnlaugson (Dancers Transition Resource Center), Ian Forsythe (North Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs), Kenneth Sherman (Karma2000 Film Production), Carlyn Elliott (PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Accounting) and Shauna Elton (Independent Dance Artist).