Debbie Wilson - choreographer

Debbie Wilson has created a repertoire of critically acclaimed productions,including Aphrodite Unveiled, Raphael is whispering and Homo Office Sapiensis that in 2002 received a Dora Mavor Moore nomination for "Outstanding New Choreography". Through her international collaborative works like Planetarium (with Macedonia) and Diary of an Exile (with Trinidad and Tobago) she has introduced outstanding foreign artists in dance, music and art to Toronto while representing Toronto and Canada on the world stage. In October 2005, Wilson was honored to be invited to present Planetarium at the United Nations' Assembly Hall in Geneva, Switzerland for one of the events celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations.

Wilson is a dance and social activist who believes in using her art to forge ties between people and cultures through projects that foster greater understanding between the participants. Her choreographic themes reflect our current social environment and provide insights to the many facets of the human condition. "Powerful", "Riveting", and a "Fierce creative vision" are words that critics have used to describe Debbie Wilson's creations.

Wilson began her professional career with the Cincinnati Ballet Company at the age of 12 where she was later promoted to soloist and rehearsal assistant. She has worked as dancer/rehearsal mistress for The American Dance Machine, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Howard Richard & Dancers and Ballet Jorgen. She has also worked for the Judith Marcuse Repertory Dance Company, the Randy Glynn Dance Project as well as many independent choreographers across Canada and the U.S. Wilson's passion for learning has enabled her to become proficient in three techniques; ballet, the Horton technique in modern and the Jack Cole technique of jazz.

Wilson continues to teach and guide the next generation of dancers and creators. She is a company teacher for Ballet Jorgen, Randolph School for the Performing Arts, the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and the Ontario School of Ballet. She encourages students that she works with to push their physical limits, to embrace new experiences, to respect other people's views, to bring their own life experiences into their art and most of all to dare to fail in the pursuit of new ideas. For Wilson it is a mutual learning process.

If asked today what she is working on, Wilson would say that she is looking for the perfect melding of technical proficiency (which drove her passion for dance) and drama (which gave her the most emotional satisfaction as a performer) and social statement (which guides her life). Her passion for discovery has and continues to draw accomplished artists in dance, theatre, art, design and music into her world of self growth, social consciousness and the selfless sharing of knowledge.