{{short description|Canadian film director and choreographer}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2015}} '''Allen Kaeja''' (born in Kitchener, Ontario) is a Canadian film director and choreographer. He entered the field of dance after nine years of wrestling and judo,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artsalive.ca/en/dan/meet/bios/artistDetail.asp?artistID=12|title=Meet the Artists - ArtsAlive.ca Dance|website=artsalive.ca}}</ref> and has created over 90 dance pieces since 1981 and choreographed 26 films. Kaeja is one of the co-artistic directors of Kaeja d'Dance, along with his wife Karen Kaeja<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kaeja-ddance|title=Kaeja d'Dance|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|accessdate=August 29, 2019}}</ref> and has completed an MA dance degree at York University. He is co-founder of the CanAsian International Dance Festival.
== Work ==
Kaeja's dance film ''Of the Heart'' (2008) was co-directed with Douglas Rosenberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvpg.net/OfTheHeart.html|title=Of the Heart by Douglas Rosenberg & Allen Kaeja|website=www.dvpg.net}}</ref> Allen and Karen Kaeja teach master classes in Kaeja Partnering and Dance Film. Allen teaches at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre and Toronto Metropolitan University.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kaeja-ddance|title=Kaeja d'Dance|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|accessdate=May 30, 2022}}</ref> Express Dance, co-written by Allen and Karen, is used as a teacher resource for grades 4 to 12 dance curriculum in Ontario.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kaeja-ddance|title=Kaeja d'Dance|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|accessdate=May 30, 2022}}</ref> Kaeja has published his second book, entitled Transcending Media: Adapting the Dance Production Asylum of Spoons, from Stage to Film.
In 2011, Kaeja co-created the Porch View Dances series with Karen Kaeja and Kaeja d'Dance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cjnews.com/culture/entertainment/the-porches-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music|title=The porches are alive with the sound of music|last=Fraiman|first=Michael|date=August 2, 2019|work=The Canadian Jewish News|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, in honour of the success of the series in Toronto's Seaton Village, the city of Toronto officially renamed a laneway in the neighbourhood "Porch View Dances Lane."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.toronto.com/whatson-story/9457272-toronto-laneway-to-be-named-in-honour-of-porch-view-dances/|title=Toronto laneway to be named in honour of Porch View Dances|date=June 30, 2019|website=Toronto.com|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
== Education == Kaeja and Karen Kaeja teach master classes in Kaeja Partnering and Dance Film. Kaeja teaches at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre and Toronto Metropolitan University.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kaeja-ddance|title=Kaeja d'Dance|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|accessdate=May 30, 2022}}</ref>
Express Dance, co-written by Allen and Karen, is used as a teacher resource for grades 4 to 12 dance curriculum in Ontario.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kaeja-ddance|title=Kaeja d'Dance|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|accessdate=May 30, 2022}}</ref> Kaeja has published his second book, entitled Transcending Media: Adapting the Dance Production Asylum of Spoons, from Stage to Film.
== Film == Kaeja's father, Morton Norris (born Mordechai Nosal), was a refugee and Holocaust survivor from Poland that emigrated to Canada.<ref>“Choreographer inspired by father's experiences” Clevelandjewishnews.com. February 14, 2002. Retrieved May 30, 2022.</ref> Over the last 30 years, Kaeja produced 32 works inspired by the Holocaust. Select films from Kaeja's portfolio are a part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art and the Jewish Museum (Manhattan), the Yad Vashem in Israel and the Canadian Museum of History.<ref>“Scenes From a Marriage” Criticsatlarge.com. March 26, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2022.</ref> During his career, Kaeja created over 210 dance pieces as well as directed and/or choreographed for 35 films. Kaeja's dance film Of the Heart (2008) was co-directed with Douglas Rosenberg.[5]
Kaeja also performed as Pushkin in Moze Mossanen’s Gemini-winning dance film Nureyev.
== Live Performances == Throughout his career, Kaeja co-developed many site-specific and audience interactive engagement performances with Karen Kaeja. These include Porch View Dances (2012 - present), Downtown Dances (2016 – present, with Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada), Animating Historic Spaces – Montgomery’s Inn (2016 & 2014), Fools Paradise – Open Doors Ontario (2015), ROGUE show (2015), fFIDA 1991, fFIDA w CBC Toronto 1992 & 1993, Canada Dance Festival with CBC Ottawa (1996), and Savage Garden (1989).<ref>Fraiman, Michael (August 2, 2019). "The porches are alive with the sound of music". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved August 23, 2019.</ref><ref>“Animating Historic Sites” Torontoartscouncil.org. Retrieved May 31, 2022.</ref><ref>“Rogue Show” Verticalcityperformance.com. Retrieved May 31, 2022.</ref><ref>“From Fringe to Full-Fledged: A Transformed Toronto International Dance Festival Opens” Playbill.com. August 9, 2006. Retrieved May 31st, 2022.</ref>
== Awards and recognition == Kaeja’s awards include the Kathryn Ash Award for Choreography, Clifford E. Lee, K.M. Hunter, and Paul D. Fleck Choreography Awards (Canada), the Bonnie Bird Award (UK), a UNESCO citation, and the Moving Picture Award for best performance (Canada).<ref>"Kaeja d'Dance". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 29, 2019.</ref> In 2015, Allen was nominated for the: Ontario Arts Foundation Artist Educator Award; for “[exemplifying] excellence in arts education” and “[demonstrating] a unique approach to their arts education practice.” <ref>“Allen Kaeja Nominated for the 2015 Ontario Arts Foundation Artist Educator Award.” June 19, 2015. Retrieved May 31st, 2022.</ref> In 2011, Kaeja co-created the Porch View Dances series with Karen Kaeja and Kaeja d'Dance.[6] In 2019, in honour of the success of the series in Toronto's Seaton Village, the city of Toronto officially renamed a laneway in the neighbourhood "Porch View Dances Lane."[11] Later that year, Allen and Karen received the Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award for their substantial contribution to the “development of dance in [Ontario].” <ref>“Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award: Allen & Karen Kaeja” Danceontario.ca. July 10, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2022</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.kaeja.org}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaeja, Allen}} Category:Canadian choreographers Category:Living people Category:Film directors from Ontario Category:People from Kitchener, Ontario Category:York University alumni Category:Academic staff of Toronto Metropolitan University Category:Dance teachers Category:Contemporary dance choreographers Category:Film choreographers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)