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Peniel
Guerrier began his formal dance training in 1987. Hervé Maxi, the most
prestigious teacher in Haiti, was impressed with his dancing and invited
Peniel to study in his school. Subsequently Peniel danced with the
National Dance Theatre for 8 years and toured all over the world:
Venezuela, Paris, Hungary, Japan, Montreal, Germany, Santo Domingo, and
the United States. During this time he also toured with the Baccoulou
Dance Company.
Peniel pursued his studies at Ecole Nationale des Arts (ENARTS) and
researched Haitian folkloric traditions at Lakou Soukrie, Danache, Lakou
Souvenance, and Badjo.
While in Haiti, Peniel taught at the National Dance Theatre of Haiti and
ENARTS. He moved to the United States and currently teaches three
classes per week at Djoniba Dance and Drum Center in New York City. He
also teaches at Connecticut Ballet Center, Stamford, CT; Wellesley
College, Boston, MA; and Dance Forum Studio, NYC. He is a guest artist
at Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, Greenfield Community College,
Amherst College, and Brown University. He is also Artistic Director of
the Tamboulà Dance Company.
As a
teacher, choreographer, and performer, my vision has different aspects,
but the most important is to establish and extend the Haitian folkloric
structure and technique.
Teaching Schedule:
Open Haitian Dance -
Monday 7:30 - 9:00pm
Class Descriptions:
Haiti, the
second independent republic in the Americas, partakes of three cultural
sources: African, American, and European. The dances and culture of
Haiti have been extremely important in the development of American
dance, thanks to the pioneering work of Katherine Dunham. Peniel
Guerrier draws on his extensive knowledge of Haitian folkloric dance to
create original combinations within the different traditional Haitian
rhythms. His dances enhance the energy and flow of traditional forms
with beautiful, vivid body shapes.
Peniel
is highly regarded as a teacher because of his thoroughness, his
kindness, and the individual attention he gives to students of all
level.
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2011 - 2012 PMT
Dance Studio