Montreal dancer, choreographer and teacher Linda Rabin was honored at this year’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (PGGAS). The veteran globetrotter and co-founder of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal has dedicated more than 50 years of his life to sharing his passion for dance and somatic education.
When she received a call in August announcing that she had won the Governor General’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Linda Rabin thought it was a scam. It was for several years, his work was done in the shadows.
It was a shock. I never thought of that. I have not been seen by the public for a long time. I’m someone who works more behind the sceneshe explained over the phone, a few days before the PGGAS Gala.
From her debut in the 1960s, Linda Rabin has made significant contributions to the development of contemporary dance in the country, but around the world, she has visited four corners of the world, from Israel to Japan via the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Indonesia. .
Trained at the prestigious but demanding Juilliard School
One who was born in 1946 in Montreal knew in advance that he wanted to dedicate his life to dance. Linda Rabin dreamed of becoming a choreographer as a child, but she still had to learn to dance. Nearly 18 years old, he experienced his baptism by fire at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.
” Of course, this is demanding; it is a very competitive environment. There was a lot of stress, but at the same time there were teachers who were great and thanks to whom there was a good atmosphere. “
Also fond of travel, the young dancer soon flew to Israel, where she has a distant family. After a few years as a coach and teacher in Tel-Aviv, then in New York, he returned to Montreal with the idea of creating a place to share his love of modern dance, a trend that is gaining momentum in ‘weather.
The School of Contemporary Dance: combines theatricality and technique
In 1981, with his Ontario colleague Candace Loubert, he founded Les ateliers de danse moderne de Montréal (LADMM), which became the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal in 2012, with the idea of combining very technical that part of classical dance to the more theatrical fluidity of modern dance.
We noticed, [à l’époque], that there may be dancers who are too technical, but lack inner life, or there are dancers who are more theatrical, but lack technique. We wanted to create a practice where both aspects could be preservedhe summarizes.
Today, the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal remains one of the most well -known dance establishments in Canada, especially thanks to the creative side of its research, which aims to bring each individual to their full artistic bloom.
Understand your body to express yourself better
As a dancer, choreographer and above all a teacher, Linda Rabin has developed a unique perspective on dance through somatic education. Greek soma, meaning bodysomatic education brings together a range of techniques aimed at helping people regain their bodies in motion and develop their awareness.
The term was coined in the late 1970s with the appearance of educational modes such as the Alexander Technique, based on the relationship between the spine and head.
We learn through our own bodies. We listen to the body and we are guided by the messages of the body. And it is not the body in space, it is the inner body, the inner life of the bodysummarizes Linda Rabin.
At age 75, Linda Rabin says her passion for dance and teaching, which takes up most of her time now, is as strong as ever. When asked about what awaits her for the next action of her career, the dancer became mysterious.
I continued teaching, but I was someone who went through stages where I felt there had to be changes. It is part of my nature. And I feel in the air with a call to move towards change, I don’t know what that is, it’s not clear yet.
Source: Radio-Canada
