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Helen is a a rare mix of professional theatrical, therapeutic and circus clown. She is also an award-winning clown instructor
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TEACHING:
An award-winning clown teacher, she has been teaching clown and movement workshops in the US and Canada for over 15 years at colleges and art institutions including Durham and Fleming College, Haliburton School of the Arts, The Second City, (Toronto) and the University of Toronto. Independently she holds her own theatrical clown training workshops. She has been a guest trainer for clowns working in healthcare in both Israel, Portugal and Canada.
TRAINING:
Helen is a graduate from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A., Specialist in Drama. Helen has studied clown with David Shiner (Cirque du Soleil, Fool Moon), Francine Cote, James Keylo (Cirque du Soleil, Circus Knie, etc), Roch Jutras (Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize), John Turner and Mike Kennard (of Mump and Smoot fame), Grindl Kuchirka and Theatre Smith-Gilmour. She has studied mask with Rob Faust and Sonia Norris and mime with Giuseppe Condello. She continues her study of physical theatre with Cote+Keylon, Norris and Condello.
THEATRICAL CLOWN:
In 2005, Helen formed her own theatrical clown company, Foo Productions. This company seeks to produce quality theatrical clown shows which entertain through parodying existing art forms. Its other mandate is to expose clown to a more multicultural audience as the invented language used presents no barrier. Posey’s Wig, Saucisse, Headspace, As The Foo Turns and The Reverend Foo Revival Time are all shows produced and performed in this genre by Foo Productions.
CIRCUS and SPECIAL EVENTS clowning:
Helen returned in 2002 after clowning with Cirque du Soleil for 1.5 years, performing over 400 shows all across the United States. Upon her return, she worked for their Special Events worldwide, from England to Brazil. Specializing in live comedic interaction (walkabout/animation), she continues to entertain at special events in the corporate setting.She has worked in clown with other circus groups such as Zero Gravity Circus, Cirque Sublime and Cirque Eos and today continues her work in circus with Circus Orange. To book her for an event, visit 'shows' page
THERAPEUTIC CLOWNING:
Aside from her work in the theatrical and circus clown realm, she is a professional therapeutic clown offering artistic clown interaction through therapeutic play at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Previously, she worked at The Hospital for Sick Children and with Dr Clown (Toronto-serving elders with dementia) for over 2 years as Artistic Coordinator and Programs Coordinator. Her passion in the therapeutic clown field has her directly involved in raising standards of practice through presenting at conferences, training others in the field and in research efforts to bring about a better understanding about how this arts-based practice affects patients, families and staff. For more information about her work in Therapeutic Clowning, visit the 'Therapeutic Clowning' page
An award-winning clown teacher, she has been teaching clown and movement workshops in the US and Canada for over 15 years at colleges and art institutions including Durham and Fleming College, Haliburton School of the Arts, The Second City, (Toronto) and the University of Toronto. Independently she holds her own theatrical clown training workshops. She has been a guest trainer for clowns working in healthcare in both Israel, Portugal and Canada.
TRAINING:
Helen is a graduate from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A., Specialist in Drama. Helen has studied clown with David Shiner (Cirque du Soleil, Fool Moon), Francine Cote, James Keylo (Cirque du Soleil, Circus Knie, etc), Roch Jutras (Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize), John Turner and Mike Kennard (of Mump and Smoot fame), Grindl Kuchirka and Theatre Smith-Gilmour. She has studied mask with Rob Faust and Sonia Norris and mime with Giuseppe Condello. She continues her study of physical theatre with Cote+Keylon, Norris and Condello.
THEATRICAL CLOWN:
In 2005, Helen formed her own theatrical clown company, Foo Productions. This company seeks to produce quality theatrical clown shows which entertain through parodying existing art forms. Its other mandate is to expose clown to a more multicultural audience as the invented language used presents no barrier. Posey’s Wig, Saucisse, Headspace, As The Foo Turns and The Reverend Foo Revival Time are all shows produced and performed in this genre by Foo Productions.
CIRCUS and SPECIAL EVENTS clowning:
Helen returned in 2002 after clowning with Cirque du Soleil for 1.5 years, performing over 400 shows all across the United States. Upon her return, she worked for their Special Events worldwide, from England to Brazil. Specializing in live comedic interaction (walkabout/animation), she continues to entertain at special events in the corporate setting.She has worked in clown with other circus groups such as Zero Gravity Circus, Cirque Sublime and Cirque Eos and today continues her work in circus with Circus Orange. To book her for an event, visit 'shows' page
THERAPEUTIC CLOWNING:
Aside from her work in the theatrical and circus clown realm, she is a professional therapeutic clown offering artistic clown interaction through therapeutic play at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Previously, she worked at The Hospital for Sick Children and with Dr Clown (Toronto-serving elders with dementia) for over 2 years as Artistic Coordinator and Programs Coordinator. Her passion in the therapeutic clown field has her directly involved in raising standards of practice through presenting at conferences, training others in the field and in research efforts to bring about a better understanding about how this arts-based practice affects patients, families and staff. For more information about her work in Therapeutic Clowning, visit the 'Therapeutic Clowning' page
Helen's Resume: Clowning/Teaching/Publications/Media/Presentations
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