Tom Brouillette

Throughout my professional career I have had a driving need to both perform and create new dance.  I have taken creative cues from my working life outside of professional dance as well as my association with several choreographic masters – Douglas Dunn, Danny Grossman, and Robert Desrosiers.  I wholeheartedly believe in the need to interpret deeply investigated ideas onstage, express myself through convincing movement, and connect with audiences.  

Over the years I have developed a unique style of expression, which investigates subject matter rarely touched on in modern dance.  I bring a distinctive clarity and groundedness to my choreography.

My work is rooted in contemporary dance, with influences from my training in German Expressionist movement. I began my training with Til Thiele, a disciple of Mary Wigman.  This training emphasized drawing on my particular physicality and life experience in order to create dance.  Another gift Thiele gave us was an appreciation of music, an understanding that every piece of music asks a question and answers it.  Thiele taught us to use this to animate our dance. 

I have continued to choreograph new work and to perform through my 60s. Now in my late 70s, I refuse to let the physical limitations of age cramp my creativity.  I replace the showiness of youth with the emotional power of body wisdom that only comes with many years on this planet. In this evening of dance, I am working with other dancers who are also dealing with physical limitations.  I want to show the world that the aging body can move as beautifully and evocatively – perhaps even more so – as younger dancers.  

I’m currently performing with Sashar Zarif on “Dancing on Heaven’s Roof.”  I’m also working with Maxine Heppner on “Lullabies,” to be performed later this year.  I  run weekly Body Wisdom for Everybody dance classes for people of all abilities and ages.