HELSINKI DANCE THEATRE

Originally from California Val’s dance background actually began in Texas at San Jacinto College studying music and dance, in 1981 he began working with “The Delia Stewart Dance Company”, a Luigi style jazz dance company based in Houston, TX. In 1983 he moved to New York to begin working with two independent contemporary/jazz choreographers Miguel Goodreau and Richard Levi. While in New York Val also attended SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory there he studied Cunningham, Limón and Graham techniques. 

In 1987, Val Rey Suarez founded “extended dance”; he created it as a repertory dance company that would collaborate with choreographers and dancers involved with blending the versatile styles of modern/jazz and contemporary modern. The company soon became known for presenting technically challenging, athletic and yet flowing movement, The New York Times has said that “Val loves to push his dancers to the limit”. The company has worked with New York choreographers such as Kevin Wynn, Milton Myers, Andrew Asnes (soloist with Paul Taylor Dance Co.), Max Stone and Michael Foley among others. Extended Dance presented evenings of work throughout the New York region by receiving matching grants and funding from Morgan/Stanley, Capezio and Chase Manhattan Bank. 

During this same period of time Val Suarez also become an administrative assistant with Steps On Broadway, the largest open enrolment dance school in the U.S.A.; he assisted in the daily operations of the school as well as senior advisor for creating the “work-study” program and “studio/theatre” that enabled less financially able dancers to study and create works of their own at the studios. He held this position from 1988-1997 and 2001-2006. 

In 1997 Val was invited for a residency in Stockholm, Sweden to teach at the prestigious Royal Swedish Ballet School, The Ballet Academy and The Teachers University (Danshögskolan). During this time he created repertory, taught his style of movement, worked as an advisor, personal coach and founded “The Moving Project”, a small dance company he used to launch some of his own experimental works. 

 

 

Then in 2000 he was then invited to The Netherlands to co-direct “The Amsterdam Dance Company”. While in Amsterdam Val was also on faculty with The Amsterdam Theatre School and guest teaching with the academies in Rotterdam, Tilburg and Arnhem. 

In 2001 Val Suarez was back in New York; he was choreographing and working with EDT, on faculty with Peri Dance, Ballet Arts Inc. and Steps On Broadway; where he also held position as Facility Director, overseeing all operational functions of the business as well as assistant student director/advisor. He was also co-director for “Off Center Dance Theatre” as well as working with New York Cares, a charity organization, where he developed a "out-reach" program that would enable homeless families to experience movement classes as well as attend evenings of dance performances by professional companies such as Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and New York City Ballet. 

In 2006 Val was invited back to Stockholm, Sweden to become part of the faculty with The Ballet Academy and guest teacher at Danshögskolan (The Teachers University). While there he continued directing “extended dance theatre” (EDT) and his new company, he started in 2012, “The Suarez Moving Project”. While in Stockholm he also continued to guest teach/choreograph in Copenhagen, Helsinki, Munich, Rotterdam, Rio de Janiero, Oslo and Brussels. 

In 2013/14 Val was back in NYC as a freelance choreographer/teacher, and working as the Facility Director for Steps On Broadway. 

Currently Mr. Suarez is artistic director for Helsinki Dance Theatre as well as on faculty with Helsinki Dance Academy.