Originally from Alberta, Canada, Josh Martin is dance maker/performer who now lives and works in Vancouver, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. Inspired by the overlap of urban and contemporary forms, he received his diverse training across North America and Europe, studying in many genres. In his ongoing career as an interpreter and collaborator, he has worked with many dance companies and independent choreographers such as: Justine A. Chambers, Dana Gingras (Animals of Distinction), Wen Wei Wang (Wen Wei Dance), Tiffany Tregarthen and David Raymond (Out Innerspace Dance Theatre), Helen Walkley, Martha Carter (MMhop), Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Amber Funk Barton (the response.), Rachel Meyer, Serge Bennathan (Les Productions Figlio), Vanessa Goodman (Action at a Distance), Karen Jamieson, and as a past company member of Ottawa’s Le Groupe Dance Lab under the direction of Peter Boneham.
For over 14 years, Josh has been an Artistic Co-Director of Company 605, a Vancouver-based arts organization creating and producing new works through a collaborative process, regularly touring its expanding repertoire throughout Canada and Internationally. His collaborations with filmmakers and new media artists have been screened at over 60 Dance on Screen Festivals and events across the globe.
In his own choreographic practice, Josh’s independent work has been presented all across Canada as well as in the USA, Costa Rica, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hungary, and throughout Germany. His previous solo work, Leftovers, has received over 50 performances around the world, and numerous awards (including 1st Prize for Choreography at the International SoloTanz Festival in Stuttgart). Josh regularly teaches masterclasses and workshops across Canada and internationally throughout his touring engagements, continues to mentor emerging artists and arts workers, and has created multiple commissioned works for other companies and artists, and post-secondary schools. Behind the scenes, he has served on multiple boards and advisory committees (The Dance Centre, CADA/West, Vancouver Creative Space). Josh was the Emerging dance recipient for the Vancouver 2013 Mayor’s Arts Awards.
Photo by David Cooper.
