about lucy
who's lucy now?
After years of travelling around the world, spreading the joy of dance to thousands of people, my travels have led me to the United States.
Lucy is currently living in Portland, Oregon where she has quickly established herself in a new country, a new community and a new home. She is thrilled to bring her unique contributions in dance to established companies or those who are just breaking into the scene.
Meanwhile, Lucy is determined to maintain her international relationships with the amazing dancers, students and people that she has had the pleasure to work with in her many years as a professional dancer.
a note from lucy
I, Lucy Heartwood, am a Canadian native that has exemplified a passion for dance since a young age. My determination, adaptability, and sincere personality has helped me refine my craft and find my niche. The opening move of my dance story began at The School of Dance in Ottawa where I completed the Professional Contemporary Dance Program in 2011. Although contemporary/modern dance was my foundational choice of dance style, I have since specialized in urban/hip hop and have become proficient in jazz, street jazz (heels class), lyrical and creative movement.
I've worked with an amazing cast of characters from around the world. Peter Boneham (Ottawa), Susie Burpie (Toronto) and Emmanuel Jouthe (Montreal) are amongst the few notable teachers and choreographers that I have had the immense pleasure to work with. I've also found myself touring with multiple companies, performing in various settings and even wowing crowds numbering in the tens of thousands on stage at festivals like Escapade and Burning Man!
Lately, I have been able to use my talents of dance, choreography, stage management and teaching as a way to develop and integrate myself in many communities. I have a soft spot for and an intrinsic ability to connect with today's youth. For years, I have made memorable moments as a Dance Educator, Coach and Outreach Program Director. I hold on to dreams and aspirations that anybody can find and connect with themselves and all the world’s rhythms even if they don’t consider themselves dancers (YET)!
Lucy
project history
about lucy
Luv2Groove Dance Education
DANCE EDUCATOR / TEACHER / DANCER
2014-2020
As a dance educator for L2G, I was responsible for teaching dance curriculum through interactive urban dance workshops to hundreds of children ranging from 5 to 18 years of age. Although I began teaching locally for schools in Ottawa, ON I eventually started to tour and teach all over Greater Canada. Vancouver became my next home-base and there I was able to bring the curriculum to French Immersion and First Nations schools in addition to the general Public & Catholic schools. The curriculum itself includes creative and educational movement, peer relationship and inclusivity skills, and building self-confidence and embodiment. I organized, managed and directed school wide performances weekly, where I would also perform with the students for the faculty, parents and caretakers as well as the other students of the school.
Photo by Marianne Duval
Tara Luz Danse - Anik Bouvrette
DANCER / STAGE MANAGER
2013-2015
From stage management to performance, I built my way up in this resident contemporary dance company for the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans, ON. After some time spent as a stage manager for the company, I advanced to the position of dancer in the remount of Anik Bouvrette's "Les Billes" (see picture); an intricate piece where us dancers had to juggle complex choreography, various ball props and the use of voice for the entertainment of young audiences. I was cast as the leading role of "Angélie" in the excerpt performance of "Les Souliers d'Angélie" and I was pleased to tour twice with the company in Northern Ontario, performing multiple works and teaching interactive workshops to students in elementary and high schools.
Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
"Lose Yourself" a Short Film
DANCER
2011-2012
Directed by Toronto’s own Marc-André Miron and choreographed by Ottawa’s own Mélissa-Anne Leduc. I was cast as the lead role for this short film that showcased the life of a contemporary dancer.
* Credit reel displays my maiden name
Film still from "Lose Yourself"
Escapade Music Festival
DANCER
2017
Escapade is Canada's biggest music and dance festival and it is held in none other than the country’s capital, Ottawa. As part of the Toptyr Dance Productions’ team of dancers, I did improvised performances on 3 different stages for DJ sets composed and performed by artists such as Above & Beyond, Tiesto, Oliver Heldens and much more.
Photo by Escapade Music Festival
Festival de danse en milieu scolaire - FDMS
DANCER / TEACHER/ COACH / CHOREOGRAPHER
2015-2019
I wore many different hats during my 5 years of participating in this 3 day dance festival. The theme and intent was to bring together groups of high school students from all over the Ontario province to celebrate dance and the French language. I was honored to kick off the festival as a celebrated, French speaking, professional dancer from the local region. Additionally, I was assigned a group of dancers with whom I acted as a mentor and choreographer. I assisted the dancers in creating a dance piece that was performed on the last night of the festival. In 2019, I was selected as the teacher for the master class of the festival and had the honour of teaching all 130 participants at once!
Photo by Marianne Duval
Sukhoo Sukhoo Fashion Show
DANCER
2015
I was honored to dance in The Sukhoo Sukhoo Fashion Show by designer Frank Sukhoo from Ottawa at the annual garden party for Cornerstone Housing for Women.
Photo from the Ottawa Citizen Newspaper
"Dancing in the Streets" - The School of Dance
OUTREACH PROGRAM Co-DIRECTOR
Summer 2014
Throughout this contract, I was responsible for coordinating and teaching multiple dance classes at different summer camps/daycares/dance schools in Ottawa, ON. I also performed weekly, with the collaboration of other dancers and live musicians, in pop-up improvised performances around the city.
"Le Grand Continental" - Canada Dance Festival
ASSISTANT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR / DANCER
2013
A flash-mob production created by Sylvain Émard from Sylvain Émard Danse performed as part of the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa, Ontario. As the Assistant Rehearsal Director, I worked closely with Sylvain Émard and Rehearsal Director, Kirsten Anderson to teach the choreography to the 115 dancers that participated in this production.
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Nike Spec Commercials
DANCER / Co-CHOREOGRAPHER
2012
I was the core dancer and co-choreographer for 2 spec commercials filmed by Director Marc-André Miron from Toronto, ON. The first commercial featured urban dance choreography and was filmed in Montreal, QC. The second featured contemporary dance choreography and was filmed in Ottawa, ON.
ImPulsTanz - Vienna International Dance Festival
DANCER / ATTENDEE
2012
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, from Rosas, hosted a workshop at ImPulsTanz in Vienna, Austria in the summer of 2012. While I attended, I learned choreography from her infamous piece "Rosas Danst Rosas".