Human Body Expression
Founded by choreographer Hanna Kiel, Human Body Expression strives to break the mold of traditional dance aesthetics to create hybrid movement forms and cultivate artistic individuality. HBE seeks to tell stories and explore narratives that pulse from the very heart of human feeling; that are touching, arousing, disturbing, exciting, and everything in between. HBE’s artists embody the raw and chaotic force of human emotions to impact audiences on a visceral level. Drawing on the ever-evolving distinctive personal dance style that Kiel has developed over more than two decades as a dance professional, her company aims to present technically strong and accessible choreography with high production values, inspiring audiences of all backgrounds to become more engaged with dance.
“Kiel is a dance artist who is not afraid to tackle big subjects. Her movement is meticulous in defining meaning, and taken as a whole, her choreography explores and presents the human condition in compelling ways.”
Paula Citron
Artistic Director
Hanna Kiel
Dora winner Hanna Kiel is from Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Vancouver in 1996. She has presented her work at 12 Minutes Max, PlanB Singles and solos Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival and Pulse at the Scotiabank Dance Centre in Vancouver. In 2007, she collaborated with Yoko Ono as a dancer and choreographer at the Centre A. Moving to Toronto in 2008, Hanna has continued choreographing for: Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, Conteur Dance Academy, George Brown Dance, Ryerson Dances, School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Kenny Pearl’s Emerging Artist Intensive, IGNITE, ProArteDanza, Ballet Jörgen, Alias Dance Project, The National Ballet of Canada, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Toronto Dance Theatre and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in Calgary. She was an E-choreographer in 2015 for Springboard Danse Montreal and one of the choreographer at Osez 2018 in Quebec city. Hanna is the artistic director of Human Body Expression and one of the founders of “The Garage” dance development and exchange collective group.