Vanessa Voskuil is a choreographer, director, performer, writer, designer, and teaching artist. Ranging from large community-inclusive performance works to ensemble and solo works for site-specific locations and theater settings, her work has been described as “visually arresting,” “boldly and uncompromisingly moving within its own time and its own logic,” and “interlaced with surrealist sensibility and bracing intelligence.”
Voskuil has received two Minnesota Sage Dance Awards for Outstanding Design and nominated twice for Outstanding Performance. She has been honored twice with a McKnight Fellowship for Choreography (2009, 2015) and awarded “Best Dancer 2015” by City Pages in addition to her cast for “en masse” in 2009. She has been honored by Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine as "Best of the Year 2015." Voskuil has been named one of the “7 Artists to Watch” by Minnesota Monthly Magazine and recognized by the Star Tribune as one of “9 Minnesota Artists to Expect Great Things.” Most recently, she was awarded a 3-month artist residency and travel fellowship to Japan (2017) provided through the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Her work has been commissioned by the American Dance Festival (NC), Walker Art Center, The Southern Theater, Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, Minnesota Visible Fringe, Red Eye Theater, and Flaneur Productions, and supported by the Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, Sewell Family Foundation, American Composers Forum, Moore Family Fund for the Arts of the Minneapolis Foundation, and Forecast Public Art.
Voskuil holds a BFA in Dance and a BA in Theater from the University of Minnesota.
History
2017
Walk – Japan a 3-month artist residency and travel fellowship to Japan provided through the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the NEA
2016
Walk commissioned by American Dance Festival, NC
2015
Awarded City Pages Best of Award, “Best Dancer”, MN
Awarded McKnight Fellowship for Choreography, MN
Honored by Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, Best of the Year 2015, "Most Accessible Contemporary Dancer", MN
2014
The Student is presented at The O'Shaughnessy as part of the Women of Substance series
The Student is Minnesota Sage Dance Award Nominated for Outstanding Performance
The Master/a piece that manifests itself from thin air is presented by Right Here Showcase at the Cowles Center for Dance & Performing Arts
2013
Gates is commissioned by the American Dance Festival, NC
2012
The Beginner and The Student (for International Music Camp) residency commissions, ND
SHIFT is presented by Northern Spark at Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Midnight Padhandling is presented by Northern Spark at Walker Art Center
2011
VOCA::OMNI is commissioned by composer Zachary Crockett at Ritz Theater
RISE a residency commission in collaboration with Guild Incorporated at the Landmark Center
Forthcoming is presented by Ballet of the Dolls at the Ritz Theater
Throne/Thrown screens at moves11: INTERSECTIONS, Liverpool, UK and at the Walker Art Center
2010
Co-founded Minnesota Dance Film Festival
Named one of the “7 Artists to Watch” by Minnesota Monthly magazine
City Pages Best of Award, “Best Dancer” for “The Mass” in en masse
Forthcoming residency commission at Macalester College
Pages is presented by Bryant Lake Bowl
Overflow is presented by Minnesota Dance Film Festival
Throne/Thrown screens on MNTV
2009
en masse is commissioned and presented by the Walker Art Center
Minnesota Sage Dance Award Nominated for Outstanding Performance, en masse
Minnesota Sage Dance Award for Outstanding Design, en masse
McKnight Fellowship for Choreography, MN
Formidable Release residency commission for University of Wisconsin – River Falls, River Falls, WI
Haven is presented by Cinema Revolution at Intermedia Arts
2008
Dance film throne/thrown is presented by Cinema Revolution at Intermedia Arts
Aperture is commissioned by Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater
2007
the Silents: for Derive is commissioned by Flaneur Productions, MN
The Silents is produced at the The Ritz Theater
Lunariaist is commissioned and Presented by Flaneur Productions at Northwestern Casket Co. Building
2006
Minnesota Sage Dance Award for Outstanding Design, The White Solos, MN
that strength: parables of three residency commission at Carlton College, Northfield, MN
Anatomy of Child’s Play is produced at Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Aves is produced at Barbara Barker Center for Dance, Minneapolis, MN
We As Makers is commissioned and presented by the Minnesota Visible Fringe at Mill City Museum
In Kind Response is produced at Barbara Barker Center for Dance, Minneapolis, MN
2005
Pilgrim is produced at Barbara Barker Center for Dance, Minneapolis, MN
2004
The Weight of Light is commissioned and presented by Red Eye Theater
Vanishing Point is commissioned and presented by Red Eye Theater
Should I Desire to Possess the Whole is commissioned and Presented by The Red Eye Theater
Pending Circumstance Presented by The Southern Theater
2003
co-founded Live Action Set
She is the Other is commissioned and presented by Red Eye Theater
For What is commissioned and presented by Red Eye Theater
2001
On Certainty produced at Rogue Buddha Gallery