THE BAND
Rae Bowhay - artistic direction/composition/choreography/dance
Miguel Miguel - musical direction/composition/keyboards
Alexandra Templier - vocals
Philippe Jean - electric guitar
Mike G. - drum
Rae Bowhay - artistic direction/composition/choreography/dance
Miguel Miguel - musical direction/composition/keyboards
Alexandra Templier - vocals
Philippe Jean - electric guitar
Mike G. - drum
COLLABORATORS
Michelle Seymour - artistic/scenic collaborator
Zoe Dominiak - costume for Alexandra Templier
Michelle Seymour - artistic/scenic collaborator
Zoe Dominiak - costume for Alexandra Templier
ARTISTIC DIRECTION
CHOREOGRAPHY/COMPOSITION DANCE |
Rae Bowhay
Please CLICK here for my bio! |
MUSICAL DIRECTION
COMPOSITION KEYBOARDS |
Miguel Medina's passion for the arts stems from his childhood. At the age of 11, he began playing drums and accompanying rock bands. At the age of 16, while studying composition and classical percussion at the Manuel M. Ponce Conservatory of Music in Mexico, he became a substitute for the Symphony Orchestra of the city of Aguascalientes.
In 2000, he moved to France and met the choreographer and director Ruben Segal (Spain, Argentina). They jointly developed a rhythmic workshop for theater and dance companies, offered in several European cities, in Mexico and in Canada. While in Montreal, he met Michael Montanaro, director of the dance department at Concordia University, who offered him a job as an accompanist for the technical classes, a position he still holds today. Since then, Miguel has pursued his career with several Montreal groups, including El Azote, Juan Carranza, Blues Gitan, Sarah Renélik, Malade Mantra, Ballet Flamenco Arte de España, SASASA with Rae Bowhay, and Jorge Martinez. With the latter, Miguel had the opportunity to open for Cesaria Evora in 2008 and Paco de Lucia in 2011. Besides music, Miguel is interested in cinema. Since 2004, he has directed several short films including The Others, which was presented at the MICA festival in Bosnia in 2005. He worked as an editor for the film Masturbation libre, by the eccentric François Gourd, presented in 2006 at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma and in 2007 at the Rendez-vous du Cinéma québécois. Recently he was named endorser of the new All Wood series by Kéjam (manufacturer of percussion instruments in Quebec). |
VOICE
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Alexandra Templier is a Montreal-based artist whose work gathers her research in philosophy (Master’s degree in metaphysics, aesthetics and contemporary poetics) and her intimate exploration of the human voice. Alexandra is trained in theatre (interpretation), opera singing (soprano), cante flamenco and she is currently being initiated to dhrupad (Indian Classical Music).
She performs as an actress in Paris and Barcelona but finds her most fertile ground in singing. In 2011 she moves to Madrid to develop as a flamenco singer. Two years later, she is awarded first place in the category of ¨Cantes de Ida y Vuelta¨ in the Cante Joven Competition of the Madrid flamenco festival (Festival Suma Flamenca 2013). Her Madrid-based project, the Templier Trío, performes in diverse settings such as the emblematic traditional flamenco locals Fundación Casa Patas or tablao La Quimera, but also concert theaters (Conde Duque Auditorium), as well as at international festivals (Algiers opera house). Alexandra currently resides in Montreal where she continues to explore and develop artistically from an experimental and multidisciplinary perspective. Los Niños son Inocentes#1 (Kids Are Innocent#1) is her first creation in Canada: a quintet driven to fuse theatre and music (flamenco, free jazz, sampling). Her artistic research has received grants from the Montreal Council for the Arts and the M.A.I (Montréal Arts Interculturels). She also collaborates on a regular basis with contemporary flamenco dancers (Rae Bowhay, Karine Parisé, Nazanin Meshkat, Sarah Bronsard, Carmen Romero) and shares her passion out of stage teaching workshops and conferences (Université de Montréal, Toronto Institute for Creative Exchanges, Kingston Queen’s University) and with Samsanté, a non-profit organization through which she performs at hospitals across Montreal. |
GUITAR
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Philippe Jean is a multi-versed guitarist based in Montreal. He is primarily known in the flamenco circles for his talents both as soloist and accompanist.
He has been in contact with flamenco since he was very young. Born into a family of dance teachers, Philippe was introduced to music and choreography, which is an asset for accompanying flamenco dance. He began his guitar studies in his hometown Alma, in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. He undertook several study trips to perfect his skills with renowned masters such as "El Entri" in Madrid, "El Pulga", Javi Gomez, Guilhem Tarroux and Juan Ramirez in Seville. He is in constant evolution thanks to the courses given by guest artists such as Oscar Guzman, Caroline Planté, Mathias Berchadsky, Mariano Cruceta. He also holds a bachelor's degree in classical guitar from the Université de Montréal. Classical music allows him to deepen his knowledge of his main instrument, the guitar. He obtained a grant from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec to perfect his instrument at the root of his art. His motivation makes him an involved and dynamic artist on the Quebec flamenco scene. |
DRUMS
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At the age of 12, Michael Gasselsdorfer decided to sell newspapers to pay for a drum set. Seven years later, he moved to the United States (Seattle) to practice his art in a wooden shed converted into a music studio. Upon his return, he enrolled at Vanier College of Music, where he obtained degrees in composition, arrangement and performance (percussion).
Mike has taken private classes with teachers such as Aldo Mazza, Nassyr Abdul Al-Khabbyr, Jacob Kaye. He has also participated in four Kosa percussion clinics, where he studied with masters such as Horacio Hernandez, Zoro, Adam Nussbaum. He has played percussion with many artists in all genres; Kingpins (ska), Lynn Taitt (rocksteady), Lo and the Magnetics (pop), Maia Davies (pop), Arden Arapyan (jazz), Richy Farkas (roots, folk), to name a few. This music has taken him around the world many times, playing in festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour, Hornucopia Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, Rhythms of the World, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Mike also teaches practice, and has taught at several music camps, including Camp Rock and the Mickey Mozart Music Tours. In 2005, Mike had the opportunity to tour China as a member of Lo and the Magnetics and SASASA, an experience he claims changed his life... Among his most recent accomplishments: winning the $10,000 grand prize in the Propulsion Jazz competition as part of the Arden Arapyan music ensemble. |
ARTISTIC COLLABORATOR
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Michelle Seymour’s lifelong interest in creative endeavors has led her to explore contemporary and traditional dance forms, somatic movement studies, movement meditation forms and the visual arts.
She studied contemporary dance at Skidmore College (U.S.), York University, and Toronto Dance Theatre where she trained in Graham, Limon, Horton and Cunningham techniques.Michelle has collaborated in dance theatre projects including Out of Proportion, Separated & Disengaged, Take my Hand…Don’t leave me Alone, Barefoot Dance Theatre. Her projects have involved choreographing and performing with several independent artists. Her keen appreciation for the visual arts has involved exploring painting, drawing, and mixed media independently, as well as with different art schools in Montreal. She has a great interest in creating poetic imagery through movement and design. |
- Duration - one hour
Language of song lyrics - English - Spatial requirements - a 24ft by 20ft even surface.
Onstage, we are 4 musicians + 1 dancer + the wooden set/floor. - Full tech sheet available on request
Experienced artists of traditional flamenco as well as contemporary forms, GROUND LEVEL is a one of a kind group who are breaking new ground for music and dance.
#indie#pop#progressiverock#flamenco#contemporary#...
#indie#pop#progressiverock#flamenco#contemporary#...
Shattered is a series of songs and dances for the end of time..
Shattered is a movable tablao (the small floor around which flamenco artists gather to play) which is shattered.
Shattered portrays what happens when you give humans a bunch of rubble: they will eventually organize it into patterns; recognizable, practical and imaginative.
They will decorate.
Our floor ended up like a 9 piece Tangram which can be a fortress, a road, an animal, pieces of ice, a playground... plus its original purpose: an instrument for percussive footwork. We shift the pieces and ourselves through 9 distinct ambiences and songs which speak of the end of the world as we know it...
How do we feel about that? For real..
Far from fine. Terror, rage, shock, madness... we are no where near collective grief, but on the brink. Waiting... for the big and final announcement. It's too surreal to comprehend. Some of us walk around like ghosts addicted to machines, some make lots of noise, some hide, some just try to carry on however they can; decorating the broken pieces and imagining a new world.
Shattered is a movable tablao (the small floor around which flamenco artists gather to play) which is shattered.
Shattered portrays what happens when you give humans a bunch of rubble: they will eventually organize it into patterns; recognizable, practical and imaginative.
They will decorate.
Our floor ended up like a 9 piece Tangram which can be a fortress, a road, an animal, pieces of ice, a playground... plus its original purpose: an instrument for percussive footwork. We shift the pieces and ourselves through 9 distinct ambiences and songs which speak of the end of the world as we know it...
How do we feel about that? For real..
Far from fine. Terror, rage, shock, madness... we are no where near collective grief, but on the brink. Waiting... for the big and final announcement. It's too surreal to comprehend. Some of us walk around like ghosts addicted to machines, some make lots of noise, some hide, some just try to carry on however they can; decorating the broken pieces and imagining a new world.
With contemporary dance, a vibrant 20 year career in flamenco, and a keen interest in musical composition at her back, artistic director, choreographer and dancer Rae Bowhay has envisioned variations of 'having her own band' since early in her career.
Driven by the need to experience the intimate connection between music and dance found in flamenco, but with her own music, she rekindled collaboration with the genius of keyboardist, composer and musical director Miguel Medina.
Together, with 3 other mesmerizing hearts of gold: Alexandra Templier (voice), Philippe Jean (electric guitar) and Mike G (drums), GROUND LEVEL revels in musical influences from the 80’s and 90’s pop eras, electronic soundscapes, polyrhythmic grooves, flamenco and progressive rock.
Since 2019 they are very busy creating a musical and choreographic repertoire that is difficult to classify! They broke into poetic exploration of ambiences, landscapes and movement with the artistic collaboration of Michelle Seymour, and by mid 2021, they also broke the floor to create an ensemble of music and dance entitled SHATTERED.
GROUND LEVEL extends a warm thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts for helping us break new ground!
Driven by the need to experience the intimate connection between music and dance found in flamenco, but with her own music, she rekindled collaboration with the genius of keyboardist, composer and musical director Miguel Medina.
Together, with 3 other mesmerizing hearts of gold: Alexandra Templier (voice), Philippe Jean (electric guitar) and Mike G (drums), GROUND LEVEL revels in musical influences from the 80’s and 90’s pop eras, electronic soundscapes, polyrhythmic grooves, flamenco and progressive rock.
Since 2019 they are very busy creating a musical and choreographic repertoire that is difficult to classify! They broke into poetic exploration of ambiences, landscapes and movement with the artistic collaboration of Michelle Seymour, and by mid 2021, they also broke the floor to create an ensemble of music and dance entitled SHATTERED.
GROUND LEVEL extends a warm thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts for helping us break new ground!
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Shattered, is a series of songs and dances for the end of time..
Shattered is a movable tablao (the small floor around which flamenco artists gather to play) which is shattered.
Shattered portrays what happens when you give a human a bunch of rubble: they will eventually organize it into patterns; recognizable, practical and imaginative. They will decorate.
Our floor ended up like a 9 piece Tangram which can be a fortress, a road, an animal, pieces of ice, a playground... + its original purpose: an instrument for percussive footwork. We shift the pieces and ourselves through 9 distinct ambiences and songs which speak of the end of the world as we know it.
How do we feel??? We are not in a collective grief period yet. We are in shock, guilt, decadence, terror, denial.. many of us walking as ghosts. I can't say honestly say that 'I feel fine'.
I recently watched a long interview with scientist Garry Nolan (Garry Nolan: UFOs and Aliens | Lex Fridman Podcast #262) and he cites that the most recurring message from the 'aliens', regardless whether that be an actual higher intelligence separate from ourselves, or something arising from our collective unconscious, is: You are not taking care of your planet.
This hits hard. I scramble to focus my attention to the vertical: being over doing. A steady pursuit of ascension (mind, body and soul) while grounding and bonding with the earth and all her inhabitants (feet, hands and heart). Heal heal heal, as fast as possible so the horizontal being/doing evolves into something beautiful and full of love....
Shattered is a movable tablao (the small floor around which flamenco artists gather to play) which is shattered.
Shattered portrays what happens when you give a human a bunch of rubble: they will eventually organize it into patterns; recognizable, practical and imaginative. They will decorate.
Our floor ended up like a 9 piece Tangram which can be a fortress, a road, an animal, pieces of ice, a playground... + its original purpose: an instrument for percussive footwork. We shift the pieces and ourselves through 9 distinct ambiences and songs which speak of the end of the world as we know it.
How do we feel??? We are not in a collective grief period yet. We are in shock, guilt, decadence, terror, denial.. many of us walking as ghosts. I can't say honestly say that 'I feel fine'.
I recently watched a long interview with scientist Garry Nolan (Garry Nolan: UFOs and Aliens | Lex Fridman Podcast #262) and he cites that the most recurring message from the 'aliens', regardless whether that be an actual higher intelligence separate from ourselves, or something arising from our collective unconscious, is: You are not taking care of your planet.
This hits hard. I scramble to focus my attention to the vertical: being over doing. A steady pursuit of ascension (mind, body and soul) while grounding and bonding with the earth and all her inhabitants (feet, hands and heart). Heal heal heal, as fast as possible so the horizontal being/doing evolves into something beautiful and full of love....
Philippe Jean est guitariste polyvalent. Il est en contact avec le flamenco depuis son tout jeune âge. Né d’une famille de professeurs de danse, Philippe s’initiera à la musique et aux chorégraphies ce qui est un atout pour l’accompagnement de la danse flamenca. Il a débuté ses études guitaristiques dans sa ville natale Alma, dans la région du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean. Il entreprend plusieurs voyages d'études pour se perfectionner auprès de maîtres renommés tels que ''El Entri'' à Madrid, ''El Pulga'', Javi Gomez, Guilhem Tarroux et Juan Ramirez à Séville. Il est en constante évolution grâce aux stages donnés par des artistes invités tels que Oscar Guzman, Caroline Planté, Mathias Berchadsky, Mariano Cruceta. Il est également bachelier en guitare classique de l’Université de Montréal. Le classique lui permet d’approfondir ses connaissances de son instrument principal, la guitare. Il a obtenu une bourse du conseil des arts et lettres du Québec afin de perfectionner son instrument à la racine de son art. Sa motivation font de lui un artiste impliqué et dynamique sur la scène flamenca du Québec.
À l'âge de 12 ans, Michael Gasselsdorfer décide de vendre des journaux afin de se payer une batterie. Sept ans plus tard, il part s'établir aux États-Unis (Seattle) afin de pratiquer son art dans un cabanon en bois converti en studio de musique. À son retour, il s'inscrit au Collège de musique Vanier, où il obtient des diplômes en compositions, en arrangement ainsi qu'en performance (percussions).
Mike a fait des classes privées auprès de professeurs tels qu'Aldo Mazza, Nassyr Abdul Al-Khabbyr, Jacob Kaye. Il a également participé à quatre stages de percussion Kosa, où il a pu étudier auprès de maîtres tels que Horacio Hernandez, Zoro, Adam Nussbaum. Il a joué des percussions avec de nombreux artistes en tous genres ; Kingpins (ska), Lynn Taitt (rocksteady), Lo and the Magnetics (pop), Maia Davies (pop), Arden Arapyan (jazz), Richy Farkas (roots, folk), pour ne nommer que ceux-là. Cette musique l'a fait voyager à travers le monde de nombreuses fois, jouant dans des festivals tels que le Vans Warped Tour, le Festival Hornucopia, Le Festival de Jazz de Toronto, Rythmes du Monde, et le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Mike enseigne également la pratique, et a enseigné dans plusieurs camps musicaux, incluant le Camp Rock et le Mickey Mozart Music Tours. En 2005, Mike a eu l'opportunité de faire une tournée en Chine, alors qu'il était membre de Lo and the Magnetics et de SASA, simultanément en tournée, une expérience qu'il revendique comme ayant changé sa vie…
Parmi ses plus récents accomplissements : avoir gagné le grand prix de 10 000$ du concours Propulsion Jazz, au sein du Arden Arapyan music ensemble.
Mike a fait des classes privées auprès de professeurs tels qu'Aldo Mazza, Nassyr Abdul Al-Khabbyr, Jacob Kaye. Il a également participé à quatre stages de percussion Kosa, où il a pu étudier auprès de maîtres tels que Horacio Hernandez, Zoro, Adam Nussbaum. Il a joué des percussions avec de nombreux artistes en tous genres ; Kingpins (ska), Lynn Taitt (rocksteady), Lo and the Magnetics (pop), Maia Davies (pop), Arden Arapyan (jazz), Richy Farkas (roots, folk), pour ne nommer que ceux-là. Cette musique l'a fait voyager à travers le monde de nombreuses fois, jouant dans des festivals tels que le Vans Warped Tour, le Festival Hornucopia, Le Festival de Jazz de Toronto, Rythmes du Monde, et le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Mike enseigne également la pratique, et a enseigné dans plusieurs camps musicaux, incluant le Camp Rock et le Mickey Mozart Music Tours. En 2005, Mike a eu l'opportunité de faire une tournée en Chine, alors qu'il était membre de Lo and the Magnetics et de SASA, simultanément en tournée, une expérience qu'il revendique comme ayant changé sa vie…
Parmi ses plus récents accomplissements : avoir gagné le grand prix de 10 000$ du concours Propulsion Jazz, au sein du Arden Arapyan music ensemble.
La passion de Miguel Medina pour les arts provient de son enfance. Dès l’âge de 11 ans, il se consacre à la batterie et accompagne des groupes de rock. À 16 ans, parallèlement aux études en composition et en percussion classique qu’il entreprend au Conservatoire de Musique Manuel M. Ponce au Mexique, il est substitut pour l’Orchestre Symphonique de la ville d’Aguascalientes.
En 2000, il déménage en France et rencontre le chorégraphe et metteur en scène Ruben Segal (Espagne, Argentine). Ils développent conjointement un atelier rythmique qui s’adresse aux compagnies de théâtre et de danse, offert dans plusieurs villes Européennes, au Mexique ainsi qu’au Canada.
Lors d’un passage à Montréal, il rencontre Michael Montanaro, directeur du département de danse de l’Université Concordia, qui lui offre un emploi comme accompagnateur pour les classes techniques, poste qu’il occupe encore aujourd’hui.
Depuis, Miguel poursuit sa carrière avec plusieurs groupes Montréalaise, notamment auprès de El Azote, Juan Carranza, Blues Gitan, Sarah Renélik, Malade Mantra, Ballet Flamenco Arte de España, SASASA avec Rae Bowhay, et Jorge Martinez. Avec ce dernier, Miguel a eu l’occasion de faire la première partie de Césaria Evora en 2008 et de Paco de Lucia en 2011.
En dehors de la musique, Miguel s’interesse au cinéma. Depuis 2004, il réalise plusieurs courts- métrages dont Les Autres, qui a été présenté lors du festival MICA de Bosnie, en 2005. Il a travaillé comme monteur pour le film Masturbation libre, de l’excentrique François Gourd, présenté en 2006 au Festival du Nouveau Cinéma et en 2007 au Rendez-vous du Cinéma québécois. Dernièrement il a été nommé endosseur de la nouvelle série All Wood de Kéjam (fabricant des instruments de percussion au Québec).
En 2000, il déménage en France et rencontre le chorégraphe et metteur en scène Ruben Segal (Espagne, Argentine). Ils développent conjointement un atelier rythmique qui s’adresse aux compagnies de théâtre et de danse, offert dans plusieurs villes Européennes, au Mexique ainsi qu’au Canada.
Lors d’un passage à Montréal, il rencontre Michael Montanaro, directeur du département de danse de l’Université Concordia, qui lui offre un emploi comme accompagnateur pour les classes techniques, poste qu’il occupe encore aujourd’hui.
Depuis, Miguel poursuit sa carrière avec plusieurs groupes Montréalaise, notamment auprès de El Azote, Juan Carranza, Blues Gitan, Sarah Renélik, Malade Mantra, Ballet Flamenco Arte de España, SASASA avec Rae Bowhay, et Jorge Martinez. Avec ce dernier, Miguel a eu l’occasion de faire la première partie de Césaria Evora en 2008 et de Paco de Lucia en 2011.
En dehors de la musique, Miguel s’interesse au cinéma. Depuis 2004, il réalise plusieurs courts- métrages dont Les Autres, qui a été présenté lors du festival MICA de Bosnie, en 2005. Il a travaillé comme monteur pour le film Masturbation libre, de l’excentrique François Gourd, présenté en 2006 au Festival du Nouveau Cinéma et en 2007 au Rendez-vous du Cinéma québécois. Dernièrement il a été nommé endosseur de la nouvelle série All Wood de Kéjam (fabricant des instruments de percussion au Québec).
deep sea creatures