Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Gerry Girouard Season 3 Episode 35

Gerry Girouard is a long-time, local movement explorer/dancer/choreographer of the twin cities. He is currently merging improvisational ideas inspired from in-depth studies of Modern Dance, Argentine Tango and Capoeira. Gerry’s start in dance was dancing for Nancy Hauser in her modern dance company The Nancy Hauser Dance Company way back in 1983!!!  In the 1990’s he did his own acrobatic style of dancing by literally dancing on and off the walls, and he used this style to create and produce many evening-length acrobatic dances including: In the Shadows of the Diamond Realm (1992), Off the Wall (1994), Songs for the Body Electric (1997), Gravity Games (2000), The Cult of Dorian Gray (2004), the 2006 IVEY award winning show Crimes & Whispers: A Tango of Despair and Defiance. Since 2010 Gerry has pursued more informal performances and focused on the merging of improvisational ideas inspired from in-depth studies of Modern Dance, Argentine Tango and Capoeira. In 2017, Gerry co-founded with Lori Mercil and Becky Heist and continues to produce and choreograph in the 16 FEET showcase for independent choreographers. The showcase is a collaborative effort of all the participants. Gerry has earned many grants and commissions including several Minnesota Dance Alliance’s Dancer Pool Grant (1990, 1994, 1997, 1999), Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiatives (1991, 1994, 2000, 2005), MRAC Community Arts Grant (1996), Jerome Foundation Grants (1997, 1999, 2003, 2005) and a McKnight Foundation Choreography Fellowship (1992).