The Paper Rabbits
About Us
Based in Vancouver BC, Canada, we are an experimental dance collective offering distinct perspectives that are under represented.
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Invested in contributing to the Canadian art scene, we are determined to expand and redefine how dance is perceived.
Current Productions
"Prom Nite"
August 2nd, 2024
Prom Nite is an improvised dance piece that explores themes of nostalgia, desire, orbits and cycles as well as destruction and tension. Scored to Fred again.. and Brian Eno's album "Secret Life" with features of The Shirelles and The Cure, these themes will be investigated through the use of props, costumes and dance. We hope to create something that is thought provoking and showcases the beauty in shared experience (see trailer below).
Performed by Nathan Coburn, Elle Derkitt, Sophia Makarenko
The Team
Nathan Coburn
Dance Artist / Founder
Nathan Coburn was born in Vancouver, BC and started taking ballet classes before joining the Arts Umbrella Dance Company. He has recently graduated from the Arts Umbrella Graduate Dance Program under the direction and mentorship of Artemis Gordon. During his time at Arts Umbrella, Nathan has been fortunate to work with and learn from dance artists such as Artemis Gordon, Lynn Shepphard, Sabra Perry, Crystal Pite, Eric Beauschene, Fernando Hernando Magadan, and Doug Letheren, among many others. He has also participated in the Young Choreographer Mentorship Showcase, led by Crystal Pite. In 2022, Nathan was a part of the Ballet BC Annex, performing works by Ethan Colangelo and Micaela Taylor, as well as leading community outreach workshops throughout British Columbia. Most recently, Nathan has performed in choreographies by Jacob Williams and Kay Barnes.
Elle Derkitt
Dance Artist / Founder
From Regina, Saskatchewan, Elle began her early professional training at the Alberta Ballet School in Calgary, Alberta. In 2020, she continued her studies at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver under the direction ofArtemis Gordon. Since then, Elle has been fortunate to work with incredible artists such as Yvan Dubreuil, Marissa Wong, Crystal Pite, Fernando Hernando Magadan, Doug Letheren, Aszure Barton, and Ethan Colangelo, among others. She has also had the opportunity to learn repertoire by Marco Goecke, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Sharon Eyal. In 2022, Elle was a part of the Young Choreographer Mentorship Showcase led by Crystal Pite, which prompted her desire to choreograph.
Elle is based as a freelancer in Vancouver, BC, but will often return to Saskatchewan to create and expose dancers to the vast information she wishes she knew as a young dancer. Elle is also on faculty at Arts Umbrella, where she teaches dance to young children and aspiring artists, was recently a part of The Falling Company’s PLUNGE project, has starred in music videos, and has worked under the direction of Medhi Walerski for Ballet BC’s Annex. She is a proud recipient of the Prince Edward Arts Scholarship from SK Arts (2021). Elle has been a member of Paper Rabbits since its’ establishment in 2023.
Sophia Makarenko
Dance Artist / Founder
Sophia Makarenko grew up on Bowen Island, and is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. She began taking local ballet classes at the age of four and later joined Arts Umbrella in 2019 under the artistic direction of Artemis Gordon. While at Arts Umbrella, she had the opportunity to co-create a short work with Nathan Coburn as part of Arts Umbrella's Young Choreographer Mentorship Showcase which is mentored by Crystal Pite.
In 2022 she participated as a dancer in the ‘Ballet BC Annex’ which is under the direction of Medhi Walerski. She has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Crystal Pite, Medhi Walerski, Fernando Magadan, Doug Letheren, Aszure Barton, Ethan Colangelo and Micaela Taylor. She has also performed works by Sharon Eyal, Marco Goecke, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and William Forsythe. Since graduating from Arts Umbrella in 2023, she has been a part of numerous freelancing projects. In 2024, Sophia performed in ‘Over the Ridge’ which was a project facilitated by Ballet BC in collaboration with The Fugitives. As a choreographer, she has worked on numerous projects including multiple music videos with Petrichor North Records. As a teacher, Sophia is on faculty at Arts Umbrella and is also active in outreach throughout BC.
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