Artistic DirectorANNE BUNKER
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ANNE BUNKER Anne Bunker is the Artistic Director of O-T-O Dance and Co-Director of the multi-disciplinary teaching company, Art Gecko. Anne has taught children and people of all ages and abilities for 30 years in private and public educational and Arts institutions. Professional experience includes the Cleo-Parker-Robinson Dance Ensemble, Heights Dance Company, Pilobolus Dance Theatre and Bill T. Jones. Choreography and Company touring engagements encompass performances in New York City, Washington D.C., throughout the United States – including Alaska and Hawaii, Mexico, the U.K., Italy, Switzerland, Russia, South and Central America. Anne’s first major award was a year long fellowship in 1979 from the Rocky Mountain Women's Institute. In 1981 she founded and directed Anne Bunker and Dancers in Milan, Italy. As a master choreographer she has created over 90 choreographic works since 1976. Choreography commissions have included works for the Jan Justis Dance Co., Arizona Dance Theatre, Colorado Repertory Dance Co., Wishbone Dance Theatre, Kim Robards Dance, Arizona Theatre Company, Webster Dance Theatre, In Motion Dance Theatre, Quintessence Woodwind Quintet, R. Carlos Nakai, Capoeira Malandragem, ARTS EXPRESS!, Heavy Metal Brass Quintet, POG, Semaphor Danceworks, Third St. Kids, PROPUDANZA, Desert Voices and ODAIKO Sonora. Currently, Anne participates in the Arts-in-Education and the Rural Arts programs for the Tucson Pima Arts Council, is a Roster Artist for The Arizona Commission on the Arts, works as Artist in Residence/Consultant for numerous schools, is a consultant for integrating the arts into academic education and has participated as a grants review panelist for both state and national organizations. She collaborates with artists of national and international acclaim in creating new performances for both traditional and non-traditional performance spaces. In 1990, 1995 and 1997 she received Artist-in-Residence awards from the Tucson Arts District Partnership and in 1991 Anne formed the Duet Company Art Gecko with her husband, composer/videographer/visual artist, Chuck Koesters. In 1993 and in 2001 she was awarded choreographer fellowships from the Tucson Pima Arts Council and in 1994 she was awarded an Artist Project Grant from The Arizona Commission on the Arts. In 1995, Anne was named Best of Tucson by the Tucson Weekly Reader’s poll for her solo work, “Interiors”. Anne is recipient of the 1997 award in choreography from The Arizona Commission on the Arts. In March of 1998, Anne taught and performed for the Festival Internacional de las Artes in San Jose Costa Rica and received and award from Americans For The Arts which included traveling to Northern Ireland to teach and perform with the Dungannon Disability Arts Studio. Recent teaching and performing engagements have included tours to St Petersburg, Russia, Quito, Guyaquil and Manta Ecuador in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006 with support from the US Embassy. In 2004 she was guest artist at the Cranbrook Schools in Michigan and created TURRJURKUPA with Australian didgeridoo master and videographer, Ash Dargan. In 2005 Anne was awarded the prestigious Artist Award from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tucson Pima Arts Council. In 2006 with her husband and longtime collaborator, Chuck Koesters, they completed their newest work Hawaiian Suite which premiered in Quito, Ecuador at the 5th Annual Festival Mujeres en la Danza. Her works, her vision and company have become an Arizona dance institution. Interiors KVOA Television O-T-O In the Park After Dark KUAT Television "Bridging Worlds" KUAT Television |
