Annie Wood: Creativity, Choreography And Self- Acceptance

I find it fascinating to have conversations with people that you haven’t seen in years. The passage of time can allow for a different perspective and a deeper appreciation of someone. Annie was a dance instructor of mine in college and the relationship we had was very much a teacher-student dynamic. When I studied with Annie my perception of her professional persona was that she was confident, intense, and polished. She still embodies all of those characteristics but is now approaching her choreography and teaching with a different philosophy. It was interesting to hear Annie describe how she has allowed room for her teaching and choreography process to morph and change since my experience with her as a teacher. I knew her as someone with high expectations. She was a teacher who pushed dancers past what they thought they were capable of regardless of their level of dance. You didn’t dare show up in her classroom not wearing black or making excuses and you came ready to work and push yourself. It could be intense at times but ultimately I found her class to be one of the classes I improved the most in. Sometimes I found myself cursing her, in my head, but ultimately I knew I was becoming a stronger human being because of her intense coaching style. Annie was not there to be liked. She was there to make you better and I respected her for that.

She describes her process now as more of a collaboration between her and the dancer. She has become more focused on each individual dancer and addressing their individual needs whether that be their skill level, body type, or confidence level. I found that part of our conversation fascinating. Annie has not stood still in her philosophies and mindset. She has done what I believe great artists do. She continues to reflect and evolve no matter how uncomfortable that can be at times. She has been actively evaluating the way she expresses herself and how her contribution to the creative process effects those around her.

by Chelsea Johnson | Cue to Cue

A little about Annie :

Annie is a passionate and accomplished teacher, choreographer and dance adjudicator. Ms. Wood holds a Masters degree in Dance Studies from York University. She also holds a Bachelor of Education, specializing in Dance Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Miss Wood has been on faculty at many respected educational institutions including: York University, George Brown College Dance, Sheridan College, Ryerson University, The Randolph Academy for Performing Arts, Quinte Ballet School, The Alberta Ballet School and Etobicoke School for the Arts. Currently, Miss Wood is the director of the dance program at the esteemed independent girls school in Toronto, Branksome Hall.

Annie has taught Master Classes throughout North America alongside dance icon: Mia Micheals and other notables such as Wes Veldink, A.C. Ciulla, Bradley Rapier, Jillian Meyers, Chet Walker, Michelle Assaf, Jeffrey Amsden and Terry Beeman to name a few. She has worked at many local dance studios across Canada and The United States. Miss Wood is an award winning choreographer with her competitive work and many of her students have won regional and national titles.

Included in her Concert and Stage work is the critically acclaimed Toronto -based dance company, Company Verve for which she was the founder, artistic director and resident choreographer. She has created work for the Toronto International Fringe Festival, Dance Ontario’s Premiere DanceWeekend, the Junction Arts Festival (Toronto), ArtsWeek Toronto, the Jackson Dance Network (Toronto), Tin Pan Alley Dance Project (Toronto), Just Jazz 2000 (Toronto) and Dancers for Life 2000, featuring Gregory Hines and Rex Harrington. Annie has also been commissioned to create concert work for numerous educational institutions in Canada. Recently Annie choreographed A Tribute to Fosse, Musical Productions: West Side Story, Rent, Footloose, Urinetown- The Musical and Anne of Green Gables for Etobicoke School of the Arts in Toronto. She worked as a Guest Choreographer on the production of Across the Universe for Toronto Young Company- Dancesation. Miss Wood was commissioned as Artistic Director of the Provincial Dance Project –Dare to Dance in 2007 and 2008. Commercial stage work includes the Fosse Cabaret presented at Buddies n BadTimes in Toronto: Don’t Tell Mama, Deerhurst Resort- Sing 2002 Revue, Regent Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines and the musical comedy, BollyWood or Bust which premiered in Toronto at the Ford Centre for Performing Arts. Some of her Industrial work includes: The Toronto NBA Raptors Dance Pak, The Art of Fashion Benefit for Breast Cancer, The Toronto International Teen Movie Festival, LCBO, Hyundai, Bell Mobility, Pfizer, Rogers, AT & T, CIBC, Grinnell Fire Protection, Career Edge, The Ontario Gymnastics Federation, Military Tours to the middle east and the Alert Army base, Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and the Frank Sinatra Tribute-The Kings of Swing at the Wintergarden Theatre in Toronto. Annie has worked with numerous recording artists including: Jon Secada, M2M, Nelly Furtado, Jack Soul, Shawn Desman, Amanda Marshall, Alanis Morisette, David Micheal Anthony, Zoe Skylar, Acapella Band-The Essentials and Jon Cougar Concentration Camp. Her work has been featured on television networks including: Global, CTV, TMN, CBC, MUCH and Rogers Daytime. Recently, Annie received an award for Best Choreographer at the Show Choir Canada National Championships and she was featured in the TVO documentary: Unsung Behind the Glee.