Jillian Peever & The SPACE Upstairs

Jillian Peever

Dance Artist, Choreographer, Teacher...

My family home was out a rural route on Lake Muskoka, Ontario. I grew up playing in the woods, often ankle deep in a creek, or hiking ridges and old abandoned farm fields. I met my soul mate and pursued my dreams in Toronto. In 2020 I rediscovered the love I had for the rural life and relocated to Burk’s Falls, in the Almaguin Highlands, just north of Huntsville Ontario.

I lived and breathed dance from the age of 4. With my mother teaching me ballet dance was always present. At 18, I moved to Toronto set on becoming a Ballet Teacher. And that's the first thing I did. I do love teaching. Living and dancing in Toronto opened my eyes up to contemporary dance. My heart opened immediately and I shifted and grew. Contemporary Dance has really made me who I am today. I learn so much with each project. It is a kaleidoscope. I am now focusing on bringing more dance experiences to the Almaguin Highlands, and participating in growing dance audiences in the areas of Simcoe, Muskoka, Parry Sound, and North Bay through dance and related events like classes, workshops, performances, and other activities that promote dance and it’s benefits to the public.

My family is a major impact now. My children keep me young and make me feel wise (and old) at the same time. My partner helps me feel grounded and healthy. The support of my friends and family, and the potential for growth keep me dancing and creating.

Works

The view from here

A solo dance performed by Jillian Peever, with choreography by Sasha Ivanochko

 

A sculptural slow burn. A confined space. A woman with volume. With an emphasis on task-based creative process, the individual emerges, and navigates her whole being with aliveness through a moment in time. The source is the body. The body in action reveals truths.  

Collaborating artists: Sasha Ivanochko (Choreography), Jordana Deveau (Rehearsal Direction), Tanya White (Costume Design), Matthew Ariaratnam (Sound Design), James Kendal (Set Design), Noah Feaver (Lighting Design).

Available for touring.

World premiere Dec 1, 2021 @ The Citadel, Toronto, ON

Guelph Dance Festival, June 2024

Ottawa Dance Directive, October 2023

Burk’s Falls, March 2022

Photo by Kendra Epik.

 
 

Seeing the Beautiful Choice and Chaos

Choreography and Performance: Jillian Peever

Premiere: February 2nd, 2017, New Music Festival, Univeristy of Toronto Faculty of Music

Composer: Xintong Wang

Musicians: Juan Olivares, Linnea Thacker, Tristan Durie, and Boris Trevius (or Branko Džinović)

Storytelling and Dance, performed in non-traditional spaces, audience engagement and interaction. 

Length: 20-25 min

 

Photos by Omer Yukseker

 

The Mystery of Mr. Leftovers

 

Dora Mavor Moore Award winner, Outstanding Female Performance 2016.

Performer: Jillian Peever

Choreography: Sharon B. Moore

Dramaturgy and Sound Design: Derek Aasland

Premiere: February 26, 2016, Toronto ON, Canada

Lighting Design: Gabriel Cropley

Stage Manager: Marianna Rosato

Costumes: Jesse Dell

Production: Jillian Peever Dance Creations and Cinetic Creations

Solo dance and theatre, performed in a traditional theatre spaces.

Dora Mavor Moore Award winner, Outstanding Female Performance 2016.

Nominated for choreography, lighting, and outstanding production. 

Length: 60 min. 

 

Perception: What We Do

 
 

Performers: Jillian Peever, Ana Groppler, Jolyane Langlois, Emma Kerson

Choreography: Jillian Peever

Mentor: Sasha Ivanochko

Lighting Design: William Mackwood

Music Editing: Kuzie Musiyiwa

Premiere: July  18, 2014, Toronto, ON, Canada

Dance for traditional  or non-traditional performance space.

Length: 25min

Photo by Callum Pinkney

 
 
 
 
Jill Peever-Collective Dance Rehearsal (5)-2.jpg

The End of the Road Project

Ongoing series of projects. Dance Film, Site Specific works, dance, storytelling, dance photography. 

Collaborating artists:

Juan Villegas (dancer), Michelle Zimmerman (Photography),

Syreeta Hector (dancer), Sky Fairchild-Waller (dancer), Andrea Nann (Dancer), Gerry Trentham (Elder), Robin Buckley (composer)

 

 

Inspired by the roads I travel in Ontario and abroad that connect me to the people I love, have loved, and to the places that inspire me. 

 

 

 Photos by Michelle Zimmerman, Omer Yukseker, video by Jillian Peever

 
 

Teaching History

Canada's national Ballet School 2008-2020

Taught in the Adult Ballet Program, Associates Program (recreational youth), and Pre-professional Contemporary Dance Program. 
Graduated in 2008 from the Teacher Training Program with credentials with the Royal Academy of Dance, The Cecchetti Society of Canada, and National Dance ISTD

Dance Arts Institute (Formerly the School of Toronto Dance Theatre) & toronto Dance theatre Outreach 2011-2019

Taught in the Pre-professional Conditioning Program, and Adult Contemporary Dance Program (recreational).

Graduated in 2011 from the Professional Dance Program and continued as intern with Toronto Dance Theatre including a short tour of Christopher House’s Severe Clear in 2012.

Ballet Jörgen Summer School, George Brown dance & Theatre Schools 2014-2019

Pre-professional Contemporary Dance Courses & Fitness

Public and Private Highschools and elementary schools

With my relocation to Burk’s Falls in 2020, teaching in schools hit pause until 2022 when I volunteered at my son’s school Land of Lakes Elelmentary. Now I’ve also worked at West Ferris in North Bay, and Pine Glen in Huntsville, and through the National Theatre School’s events I’ve taught at Gravenhurst Highschool and Canadore College.

Guest teaching in Toronto took me to Cawthra Park Secondary School, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Earl Haig Secondary, and assistant guest teaching at Ridley College and Castlebrook Secondary. A 2014/15 collaboration with Angela Blumberg lead to teaching and performing in Discover Your Dance: The Four Seasons, an educational dance workshop that traveled to schools across the GTA and surrounding cities and is available for booking through Angela Blumberg.