ALEX GOSSEN
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Curriculum Vitae

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Alex Gossen
502-876-6287           alexgossendance@gmail.com

EDUCATION
2017    Bachelor of Fine Arts
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dance Major.

DANCE INTENSIVES AND TRAINING
2018    b12 Research or Die Festival.
2018    Catch the Flava Summer Breaking Intensive.
2017    Abby Z and the New Utility Training Intensive.
2016, 2015    RUBBERBANDance Group Summer Intensive.
2015    Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts.
2014    American Dance Festival Six Week School.

CHOREOGRAPHED WORKS
2018    Broken Rhythms - Choreographer and performer.
    In this duet, I explored the rhythms of breaking and the creative possibilities of fitting breaking movement into non-4/4 time signatures.

2018    Solid Thought - Co-Choreographer with A. Raheim White and performer.
This improvisational work used vigorous yet sensitive partnering to explore and challenge our relationship with our own race and gender expectations and stereotypes.

2017    Anechoic - Choreographer and performer.
This was a play that examined the process of a person going insane inside an anechoic chamber and reflected upon traumas people hide inside themselves. The play was written by Emily Rich and directed by Eric Turner.

2017    Connections - Choreographer.
I created this improvisational duet as part of my research into teaching others how to connect while dancing together, and what connections people form between each other.

2017    Hardboiled - Choreographer and performer.
I choreographed this trio with two other breakers for fun on spring break. This piece was the physical embodiment of the song “Hardboiled” by A.Y.B. Force.

2016-18    Raw - Choreographer and performer.
A solo created using a blend of breaking and contemporary dance as a way to understand my relationship with the dance styles I practice, to understand my relationship with control and vulnerability, and to experiment with how my upbringing in the American Midwest affects my performance of breaking, an East Coast dances style.

2016    Flickering Illusion - Choreographer and performer.
Created in collaboration with costume technician Laura Molander, this solo used unconventional movement in a programmable, light-up costume to create imaginative pictures in a darkened space.

2015    Deconstructed - Choreographer and performer.
I made this solo to present my passion for difficult movement and to explore the elements of breaking by deconstructing them.

2014    12:37 am, or When the Dreaming Starts - Co-choreographer with Thomas Welsh-Huggins and performer.
We created this solo to re-create the feeling of waking up in the middle of the night from wild dreams.

PERFORMANCES
2018        Crooked Tree Center for the Arts
        Performed as Cavalier in The Nutcracker.

2017-18    BraveSoul Movement Company
Dancer in first company.
2018    A Line Through - Choreographed by Shirley Mordine and Kelsa “K-Soul” Robinson.
2018    Be About It - Choreographed by Daniel “BRAVEMONK” Haywood and Kelsa “K-Soul” Robinson.
2017    untitled - Choreographed by Daniel “BRAVEMONK” Haywood and Kelsa “K-Soul” Robinson.

2016        Raphael Xavier
Guest performer in Point of Interest.

2014        Leonie McDonagh
Performer in Four Fingers and a Thumb.

2013-17    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2017    Point 0 - choreographed by Momar Ndiaye.
2016    heavy planet - choreographed by Abby Zbikowski.
2016    Pxyxl… - choreographed by Brendan P. Behan.
2016    Baldwin/NOW - choreographed by Ping Chong.
2015    Androgenous - choreographed by Skylar Males.
2015    Lalula - choreographed by Jan Erkert.
2014    Journey - choreographed by Earl Mosley.
2014    Tom - choreographed by Philip Johnston.
2014    Dido and Aeneas - directed and choreographed by Philip Johnston.
2014    Echoes - choreographed by Meng-Hsuan Wu.
2014    Kama Begata Nihilum - choreographed by John Toenjes and Janice Dulak.
2014    Psychosis - choreographed by Elijah Gibson.

AWARDS
2017    Outstanding Undergraduate Performance Award
Awarded by the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois for my performances in heavy planet, Raw, and Point 0 during the 2016-17 academic year.

2016    James Scholar Project Grant
Awarded by the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois to train with RUBBERBANDance Group and Raphael Xavier as preliminary research for my thesis, Raw.

2014, 2016    Undergraduate Travel Award
Awarded by the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois to support my preliminary research for Raw (2016) and to attend the American Dance Festival (2014).

2014    Perry Souchuk Memorial Scholarship
Awarded by the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois, this is a talent based scholarship awarded to one incoming undergraduate per year.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2018    Crooked Tree Center for the Arts
Guest teacher of 5 masterclasses for pre-professional dancers.

2017-18    Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Hip-hop/Breaking Instructor for ages 9-14.

2017-18    Dovetail Studios
Hip-hop/Breaking Instructor for ages 5-12.

2016-17    Champaign Parks District
Hip-hop/Breaking Instructor for ages 10+.

2013-17    Floor Lovers Illinois
Head of Education and Outreach for a registered student organization focused on breaking and hip-hop culture.

2014-17    University of Illinois course work
2017    Teaching Art to Incarcerated Youth
Met at the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center to lead weekly arts-based activities.
2014    Creative Dance for Children
Studied brain-compatible dance for all ages and creative dance practices for children. Assisted and led lessons for students ages 4-12.

Contact

Email
alexgossendance@gmail.com
Phone
(502) 876-6287
Instagram
@agossendance
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