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Sarah R Johnson

Sarah began her dance training in Saint John NB at Port City Dance Academy and continued her professional training at Ryerson University. Since completing her studies, Sarah has had the opportunity to work for independent dance artists Darryl Tracey, Andrya Duff, Jill Camarta, Jesse Dell (with the Scandelles), Mary-Beth MacMillan, Jasmine Inns and Julie Mytka.

Sarah danced for choreographer Tina Fushell in “The things we do”, which was presented at ‘Hysteria’ (2005), and at the Guelph dance festival (2006). “The Things we do” was also made into a film, which was shown at Moving Pictures film festival (2006), Ontario Dance Weekend (2007) and was shown in Budapest at the International film festival (2008). Sarah also danced in a Bravofact short film with director Geoffrey Pugen and choreographer/dancer Steeve Paquet called “ Fictional Dance Party”, which aired in July 2007. Recently, Sarah has been working with choreographer Kennet Oberly from Colombus, Ohio on a new project “Mirror within Mirrors” which will be completed September 2010.

Sarah has also presented her own work at York University, Series 808, fFIDA, At the Wrecking Ball I, Dancing Bodies, the Atlantic Fringe Festival, Kinetic Studio as well as choreographing for Praxis Theatre company. And in June of 2009 Sarah worked with Liam Caines of The Royal Winnipeg Ballet in new works presented at Dancing Bodies, Anything by Mozart?

Sarah received, along with film-maker John Marshall, a regional arts grant from artsnb. The project is titled “Moving Murals” and has been presented all over the uptown area of Saint John beginning in May 2008. Two of the four films have been shown at the Atlantic Fringe Festival, along with new film and dance works, that Sarah and John created. “The Board Rocker” was shown at The Continental Drift film festival in September 2008.

In March 2010, Sarah co-founded Connection Dance Works, a professional dance company in Saint John. Connection Dance Works had its’ debut performance in May at the Saint John 225 celebration and has up coming performances in August and November 2010.

Sarah assisted dance artist Hope Terry with The Explorers Project (2006), which taught modern dance, ballroom and yoga to the visually impaired. She has also taught modern, ballet and jazz in Nova Scotia and Toronto and is presently teaching at Port City Dance Academy, where she is able to study the Cecchetti ballet method and work towards becoming a certified Ceccehetti teacher. Sarah is also instructing Yoga at the Yoga Outlet and movement for actors at Interaction Children’s Theatre school.