Jessica Runge
Jessica Runge is one of Canada's celebrated dance artists, known for her lyricism, grace, intelligence and humour. .She was instrumental in the earliest research of Maxine's Cycles practice with the 1999 dancework "Gold Wall", then “Nine Bronze Pieces” and the “Memory project”, and continues to be a principle contributor in Maxine's development and performance projects.
A member of Toronto Dance Theatre from 1998 through 2006, Ms. Runge now enjoys a successful career as a freelance dance interpreter, choreographer, and teacher. She has toured nationally and internationally as interpreter or originating dancer in works of such acclaimed Canadian choreographers as Peggy Baker, Peter Chin, Holly Small, Maxine Heppner, Christopher House, also Susie Burpee, Susanna Hood, Heidi Strauss, Deborah Dunn.
Her own works have been presented in many venues in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada, including the Canada Dance Festival, Dance made in Canada, 4 at the Winch, and the Guelph Dance Festival. She has been commissioned to create dances that have toured internationally, as well as site-specific works for such spectacular settings as a twelve metre high outdoor waterfall in downtown Toronto. Jessica was a co-artistic director of Series 8:08 from 1994 - 2004, producing innovative dance workshops and performances. She is an Associate Artist of Peggy Baker Dance Projects, an OAC Artist-in-the Schools, and a member of the Intergalactic Art Collective. Honours include the 2005 K.M. Hunter Artists Award for Dance, and nominations for three Dora Mavor Moore awards for her outstanding performances of, and choreography for new dance premieres.
